The Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) Social Service Assistant works at a community site where chronically homeless Veterans or Veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless can access immediate services. The focus is to provide psychosocial service to these Veterans.

Duties

The Social Services Assistant provides administrative support to the CRRC and the larger Homeless Programs. Responsible for developing and maintaining a therapeutic professional relationship with Veterans receiving services at the CRRC. Provides orientation to the Veterans by explaining CRRC policies/procedures and treatment expectations and goals. Interviews each Veteran to assess skills associated with activities of daily living, personal hygiene, and access to food. Maintains close contact with Veterans in the CRRC to ensure that their behavior and social interactions are satisfactory while obtaining services. Organizes and facilitates small groups of Veterans for development of problem-solving skills for return to independent living in the community. Provides crisis intervention in situations of medical psychiatric and/or behavioral in nature by assessing the situation and initiating the action to secure medical care or police assistance. Assist Veteran with move into housing which included but is not limited to obtaining necessities and furniture, scheduling furniture move-in, and turning on utilities which may be done through collaboration with Voluntary Services and community providers. Participate in outreach to prospective landlords and property management groups on behalf of Veterans receiving service through the Homeless Programs. Perform regular administrative functions e.g. makes shower assignments, laundry assignments and completes entries in communication log. Manage the fleet of Government vehicles assigned to the CRRC by completing vehicle checks as required by the MEDVAMC motor pool and accrediting bodies. Complete inventory when items are donated, organizing donated items and submitting donation forms to Voluntary Services per protocol. Provide coverage to the CRRC front desk, waiting area and shower/laundry area. Order supplies and other items as needed which may require going to the main campus to pick up ew items and return soiled items. Responsible for maintaining clean, safe, and healthful environment for app patients assigned to the Section. Candidate will be expected to drive a government vehicle. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am -4:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Social Services Assistant/PD04060A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This position is covered by AFGE bargaining unit. Per the AFGE Master Agreement, the Area of Consideration will be: 1st Area of Consideration - Current Facility and CBOC employees 2nd Area of Consideration - VA Nationwide applicants 3rd Area of Consideration - Other Status candidates

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/04/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade 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: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above). Note: Experience must be filled documented on your resume to be creditable. 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 leader-monitor-proctor 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 additional to meeting the Individual occupational requirements, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience with handling conflicts and problems; interviewing and listening to patients; documenting patient information in data bases; conducting individual and group orientation; using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation; having a working knowledge of medical terminology, Microsoft Office products, ordering and reconciling supplies. Interpersonal skills to be able to encourage patients/Veterans who may be difficult and/or embarrassed to address their hygiene issues; experience performing housekeeping duties. Note: Experience must be filled documented on your resume to be creditable. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ThinkingCommunicationCritical ThinkingTechnical Competence 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 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time 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: Work is carried out mostly in the CRRC. However, the position regularly conducts inspections and supervises building cleanup, etc. Duties require lifting, carrying 50+lbs, sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, kneeling, bending, stooping, twisting, pulling/pushing, simple grasping, reaching over shoulder. Conditions during inspection and drills may also include heat, cold, excess humidity, work with chemicals, dust, noise, driving a vehicle and fire manipulation. All drivers must meet the minimum VA and VHA medical requirements for the operation of vehicles. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Johnette Weber-Sadofsky
• Phone: 6156177665
• Email: [email protected]