Senior Social Worker (Veterans Justice Outreach) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

Summary

The Senior Social Worker serves as a Veterans Justice Programs (VJP) Specialist and functions as a community-facing outreach clinician in accordance with VHA Directive 1162.06. The incumbent is responsible for outreach, identification, engagement, treatment-matching assessment, referral, linkage, systems coordination, and short-term case management for justice-involved Veterans in criminal justice settings including jails, prisons, courts, and community supervision environments.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The primary purpose of the position is to facilitate access to appropriate VA and community-based services, promote stabilization, and reduce risk of homelessness and recidivism. The VJP Specialist works in partnership with criminal justice agencies, community organizations, and VA clinical programs to support successful community reintegration. The VJP Specialist is licensed at the independent practice level and practices within professional scope. While capable of diagnostic formulation within scope of practice, the primary focus of the role is outreach, engagement, coordination, and facilitation of care rather than serving as a primary outpatient psychotherapist. Ongoing clinical treatment responsibility transfers to receiving VA programs once the Veteran is engaged in care, consistent with VHA Directive 1110.04(1), Integrated Case Management Standards of Practice. The incumbent is administratively responsible for daily operation of the VJP program, data management, and compliance with national program monitoring requirements. Outreach and Engagement: The incumbent conducts active outreach to justice-involved Veterans in jails, prisons, courts, and community supervision settings. Outreach activities include field interviews, identification of Veterans through approved processes, coordination with correctional staff, and provision of education regarding VA services. The VJP Specialist establishes and maintains professional relationships with judges, officers of the court, probation and parole officers, correctional administrators, law enforcement agencies, and community partners to ensure access to justice-involved Veterans and continuity of care. Clinical Assessment and Treatment-Matching: The incumbent conducts psychosocial treatment-matching assessments to identify biopsychosocial needs and determine appropriate referrals to VA and community-based services. Responsibilities include: - Assessing risk factors, acuity, and stabilization needs. - Developing individualized referral and engagement plans. - Facilitating linkage to medical, mental health, substance use disorder, housing, employment, peer support, and other supportive services. - Providing consultation regarding engagement strategies and clinical needs. Clinical services provided within this role are focused on engagement, assessment, and coordination. Ongoing specialty mental health treatment is provided by receiving VA clinical programs once engagement is established. Duties are continued in the education section. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Recruitment Incentives. Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part time[,] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives. Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive, it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This is an onsite position. may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55020-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-placement examination. Valid driver's license required. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Must have a CSWE Accredited Master of Social Work NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory/ at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CSWE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Duties Continued: Case Management: The incumbent provides short-term case management when clinically indicated, particularly for: - Veterans participating in Veterans Treatment Courts. - Veterans transitioning from incarceration. - Veterans requiring stabilization support to engage in VA services. Case management adheres to VHA Directive 1110.04(1) and local procedures. Once Veterans are fully engaged in a receiving VA program, primary case management responsibility transitions to that program. Duration of VJP case management varies based on justice system supervision and individual need. Court and Criminal Justice Collaboration: The incumbent serves as the VA liaison to criminal justice partners and: - Participates as a member of Veterans Treatment Court teams when applicable. - Provides treatment progress updates with appropriate authorization. - Ensures compliance with privacy and release-of-information standards. - Does not influence criminal justice outcomes, charging decisions, or provide legal advocacy. Systems Intervention and Program Development: The incumbent engages in non-clinical program development activities including: - Negotiating and maintaining access to correctional facilities. - Participating in community reentry boards and planning committees. - Providing education and training to VA staff and community stakeholders. - Developing innovative outreach strategies. - Coordinating with VJP Specialists across VISNs to ensure continuity of care for Veterans relocating between jurisdictions. Documentation and Data Management: The incumbent: - Documents all clinical contacts in CPRS in accordance with VHA Directive 1907.01. - Documents only information clinically relevant to treatment. - Records required participant data in HOMES per Homeless Programs Office standards. - Utilizes appropriate DSS stop codes (591/592 and associated codes as applicable). - Completes mandated reporting and participates in national program monitoring. Workload Considerations: Due to the field-based and community-facing nature of the VJP program, workload expectations account for: - Travel to jails, prisons, and courts. - Court participation and criminal justice collaboration. - Community liaison and systems coordination. - Outreach development activities. - Administrative documentation and reporting requirements. Productivity expectations are established consistent with VHA Directive 1161 and national Homeless Program guidance.