Summary

This position is located at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System (VAPSHCS) in the Social Work Service and provides support to the Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS) Program.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-7 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires a current - valid state driver's license. Do not upload a copy of your license at this time. If an interview is requested - you may be required to provide a copy of your current - valid - and unrestricted state driver's license. ~AND~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess 1 year of specialized experience - equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal service - that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to this Social Services Assistant position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes serving as a group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs; serving as a counselor in a youth summer camp; serving as an instructor in a training program for the development of job skills; performing work that demonstrated the ability to be responsible for and to lead and train members of a job crew; serving as a group activities leader in the Armed Services; serving as a unit leader-monitor-proctor for a dormitory group in a boarding school or other residential facility; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff in such fields as personnel (private or government) - employment guidance in a vocational or academic institution - social service - or manpower development; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or associate staff engaged in work of a social services nature in private - public welfare - government program - or community organizations - or in voluntary activities; serving as an aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs. Additional specialized experience includes assessment of clients' needs - identifying problems and providing community housing resources; working as a liaison with other organizations related to housing resources; preparing a variety of reports using a variety of programs including Microsoft Office; referring clients for additional outreach services as needed. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must have successfully completed one year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school - junior college - college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Education cannot be credited without documentation. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience - as described above - to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-7 level. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE AND COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities include: Understand strategies for effectively dealing with challenging situations with Veterans (or clients) who are under the influence of substances - are angry - hostile - or are in a psychotic or nonverbal state
• Help Veterans (or clients) in identifying goals and assist in all decisions related to establishing and achieving their goals
• Work with colleagues to develop and implement a plan to ensure personal safety when meeting with Veterans (or clients) on station or in the community
• Know about services and resources in the VA or other health care system that can be accessed to address a Veteran or client's needs and interests regarding holistic health and wellness and meaningful roles and activities
• Support Veterans (or clients) in distress and work with colleagues to connect the patient with clinical provider services when needed
• Encourage Veterans (or clients) to identify their strengths - needs - abilities - and preferences and use that information to improve their lives in the life domain areas of home - health - community - and purpose
• Adjust services and support to meet the preferences and the unique needs of the Veteran (or client) and their families
• Assist Veterans (or clients) to accurately identify barriers in achieving their goals and formulate potential strategies for moving past those barriers
• Develop relationships with Veterans (or clients) as part of a treatment team to assist with engagement of services that are beneficial to their recovery
• Coach Veterans (or clients) in how to advocate for themselves with what services and resources that they want as a component of their recovery process and personal wellness
• Have basic information and demonstrate the ability to access resources to learn general information about the health conditions that a Veteran (or client) may have and assist in their participation in interdisciplinary treatment team discussions in meaningful ways
• Use supervision (mentoring - reflection) to effectively monitor oneself and work relationships with others - prepare agendas for the meetings - and address problems by engaging in solution-oriented discussions with the supervisor
• Performing other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved