Social Work Associate

We're Looking for a skilled Social Work Associate in the Veterans Health Administration based in Denver, Colorado. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/16/2024. TimeInGrade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet timeingrade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS06. For a GS08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS07. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF50 that shows your timeingrade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF50 has an effective date within the past year it may not clearly demonstrate you possess oneyear timeingrade as required by the announcement. In this instance you must provide an additional SF50 that clearly demonstrates oneyear timeingrade. Note: TimeInGrade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Social Services Series 0187 Graduate Education: Major study social sciences. One full academic year of graduate study is qualifying for GS7. Graduate education is not creditable for positions above the GS7 level. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS5): One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions above the GS5 level. For GS07 one year at the next lower level GS06. For GS08 one year at the next lower level GS07. Specialized experience is experience in a program of direct social welfare services that required the application of program policy and operations knowledge in providing social welfare services and/or assisting social workers. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also qualifying for grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify a copy of your transcript is required. IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICANT MUST ALSO MEET GRADE LEVEL REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS07: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Advocating for patients under supervision Providing assistance to apply for housing vouchers locate housing secure financial assistance and benefits with limited scope of assignments interviewing people in order to establish the nature and extent of their problems assisting with assigned caseloads of patients and families who are experiencing chronic homelessness investigating community resources and making information about them available to social work staff documenting activities in medical records in accordance with policy utilizing computer systems to create spreadsheets written reports and maintain written statistics assisting patients in obtaining appropriate documents. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment on their resume. OR Education GS07: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full academic year of graduate study major study social sciences. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination GS07: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify a copy of your transcript is required. Specialized Experience GS08: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Assisting veterans and their families to apply for housing vouchers to locate housing and to secure financial assistance and benefits interviewing people in order to establish the nature and extent of their problems working assigned caseload of patients and families who are experiencing chronic homelessness investigating community resources and making information about them available to social work staff documenting activities in medical records in accordance with policy utilizing computer systems to create spreadsheets written reports and to maintain written statistics participating in program planning deciding the appropriate course of action and providing follow up to ensure continuity of care making appropriate referrals within the community to meet identified needs and keeping abreast of changes in the referral procedures for community services identifying complex nature of duties when social work treatment and other medical center treatment areas are needed exploring possible solutions and making recommendations to the supervisor for cases involving complex problems of serious need. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment on their resume. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Customer Service Human Factors Interpersonal Skills Manages and Organizes Information Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional philanthropic religions spiritual community student social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 3540 hours of work per week. Parttime experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is active and involves activity both in the community and at the Medical Center. The incumbent will need to be able to drive a government vehicle. A significant amount of walking throughout the Medical Center and community is required for faceto face contact with patients family members and medical center staff. For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at https://www.opm.gov/policydataoversight/classificationqualifications/generalschedulequalificationstandards/.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.