Social Worker - HUD VASH

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

This is an open continuous announcement until February 27, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• Citizenship – You must be a citizen of the United States.
• English Language Proficiency – You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education and/or Experience Combination – You must possess a master’s degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited.
  
  Note:
  
  A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master’s degree in Social Work.
• License or Certification – You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level. Exception – For assignments at the GS-9 level – VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified – pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master’s level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.

• Social Worker Quals GS-0185-9 – GS-09 Social Worker –
  
  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  
  In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-09 you must demonstrate the following Knowledge and
  
  Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members.
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members – and to formulate and implement a treatment plan – identifying the Veteran’s problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups to achieve treatment goals.
• Requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem-solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff and representatives of community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses – disabilities – and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology.

• Social Worker Quals GS-0185-11 – GS-11 Licensure Requirement:
  You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• GS-11 Experience or Education Requirement:
  In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must possess a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work–related settings (VA or non‑VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to:
  Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience;
  Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse – neglect or exploitation;
  Providing education on advanced directives and advanced care planning;
  Pro…