Social Worker Associate

Miami VA Medical Center is looking for a Social Worker Associate. They accept and support the guiding principles of the Medical Center, performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving veterans. They actively support the team concept and functions as a team player, contribute to team initiatives and continuously strive to improve the effectiveness of the team to which s/he is assigned.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/28/2026.

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-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 . 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 (Basic Requirements): You MUST meet the Basic Requirements and the Minimum Qualifications to qualify for this Social Worker Associate position.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

AND BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university in major fields of study such as: social welfare, sociology, psychology, public administration, philosophy, education, anthropology, history, economics and/or English.

NOTE :

You must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

At least two years of experience as a social welfare worker or social work assistant in a voluntary, public, social, or health agency agency that is equivalent to the next lower grade in the Federal service. At least one year of this experience must have been in a medical setting. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: providing assistance and service support as prescribed by social workers in conjunction with patients' treatment plans; interviewing patients; handling referrals to social and health facilities; obtaining and compiling data; organizing mental health and medical treatment needs; and assisting with local, state or federal benefits and referrals for food, shelter, transportation, etc.

NOTE:

Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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/ . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Competency #1 Manages and Organizes information:

Definition:

Gathers, organizes, maintains, and delivers relevant information for a specified need or requirement. Determines the importance and accuracy of information and works to ensure its completeness. Help Veterans fill out applications/paperwork & gather information. Make telephone calls or personal contacts on behalf of social workers, to providers and community agencies. Conduct interviews and develop patient centered plans. Competency #2

Problem Solving-Definition:

Identifies the problem and uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives. Determines the accuracy and relevance of information before recommending a solution. Interview people to establish nature of their problem and assist and assist with deciding the appropriate course of action. Participates in program planning in the development of sound working relationships w/ medical center personnel. gov't & community agencies. Provides total social services to selected cases by which goals can be achieved by the knowledge, skills, & abilities by which he/she has been trained. Competency #3

Written Communication Definition:

Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience. Documents all social work associate activities in the Veterans medical record in accordance with service & medical center policies. Provides social work support, case management & care coordination follow up & documents accordingly. Completes necessary paperwork to initiate community services for Veterans & conducts screenings as applicable.

Preferred Experience :

Basic knowledge of general counseling skills and crisis interventions to support MSW social workers in their clinical work with Veterans. Fundamentals of oral and written communication skills. Experience with social service agencies and programs.

Selective Placement Factor:

Decision making skills. Customer Service Skills. Ability to organize and manage information. Problem solving. Written communication skills.

Quality Ranking Factor:

Social Work Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree in Social Work. Case Management Certification.

Physical Requirements:

Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to: the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. All positions involving Federal motor vehicle operation carry the additional medical requirements specified in 5 CFR, part 930, subpart A.