Social Services Assistant

We're Looking for a skilled Social Services Assistant in the Veterans Health Administration based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

The area of consideration is current permanent employees of the San Juan VA Medical Center and satellite offices. Language Proficiency: 1. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. 2. Must be proficient in spoken Spanish. This occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement. To be considered for the position you must ensure that the experience is reflected in your resume and/or if applicable transcripts must be uploaded to support education requirement or substitution. Specialized Experience Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs. 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. In addition to meeting the Language Proficiency requirements and the IOR in order to qualify for this position at the GS6 level you must possess the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Social Services Assistant Whole Health Partner position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes providing information and advocating for Veterans personal health goals with clinical care team orienting Veterans new to the program about the services hours locations staff tools resources and other pertinent information completing selfassessments using the components of health and wellbeing identifying goals and potential actions in selfcare areas and identifying support and followup to implement a plan assisting the veteran in exploring options for participating in individual or group programs facilitating group programs aimed at exploring the components of health and wellbeing informing Veterans about community and mutual supports and how to use these to support health and wellbeing goals. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title duties month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR Education: Successfully completed at least onehalf year of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a Bachelors degree) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduatelevel education and specialized experience as described above which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Physical Requirements: The work will involve using a laptop computer at docking stations in staff cubicles/office space outpatient treatment rooms and group/conference rooms. The work will involve walking around to different workspaces within the clinic and thus conveying a patient centered environment where providers go to the patient. The physical demands include presenting oneself in an energetic way to create positive attitudes about health and wellbeing for Veterans families VA employees and stakeholders. The position is responsible for participating in and facilitating groupbased and individual classes for Veteran patients and must be able to move from site to site to facilitate such classes. Some of the work will be performed in a healthcare clinic setting in an adequately lighted and climatecontrolled office. Portions of the work will involve going to community organizations on behalf of Veterans for the purpose of connecting Veterans to VA and nonVA services which support Veterans established health goals and behaviors. Whole Heath Partners who may be located at a main facility campus at CBOCs embedded in the community (e.g. vet centers YMCAs community centers etc.) and ensuring the delivery of Group Based Curriculum and individual exploration of goals for health and wellbeing. Additional Telehealth/CVT delivery of sessions may be required.

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.