Social Services Assistant

We're Looking for a skilled Social Services Assistant in the Veterans Health Administration based in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. 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 02/08/2024. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Communicates information about community based resources aimed at assisting caregivers with accessing needed services and benefits Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills by effectively listening empathizing and speaking with the customer to cultivate a rapport and trustworthy relationship Identifies high risk or complex situations and refers appropriately to a CSL social worker Caregiver Support Coordinator Veterans Crisis Line Homeless Veterans call center or others as appropriate. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Counselor in a youth summer camp. Instructor in a training program for the development of job skills. Work that demonstrated the ability to be responsible for and to lead and train members of a job crew. Group activities leader in the Armed Services. Unit leadermonitorproctor for a dormitory group in a boarding school or other residential facility. 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. 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. Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs. Group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 4year course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree that a) included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects directly related to the work of the position (b) included a major in social behavior human behavior or health care or (c) was supplemented by specialized experience as described above for GS4. 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 fulltime undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. (Transcripts Required)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 fulltime undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. (Transcripts Required) OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelors degree. (Transcripts Required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving 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 of this position requires onsite observation and involves walking standing bending stooping and carrying of light items. 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/. 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.