Social Services Assistant

Summary The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is currently seeking a Social Services Assistant (SSA) to join the Acute Care Coordination team. The candidate will provide support services to Veterans admitted to medicine wards. The primary responsibility of the SSA is to assist with case management and facilitate connections to community resources in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

• ensuring Veterans receive safe and timely support as they transition from inpatient care. Qualifications To qualify for this position
• applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• 06/29/2026.

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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR): Applicants must satisfy the following criteria: 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. Grade level Requirement GS-06You 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-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include

• but are not limited to: utilizing automated systems to maintain case records and generate reports; assisting in interviewing clients to assess their needs and referring them to suitable community resources
• programs
• or services; and explaining policies
• procedures
• or program requirements.

Preferred Experience:

Over two years of experience in a customer service or patient care role. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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:

The work is primarily in the office and on the inpatient medicine wards. Typically

• the employee meets with patients and their families and bedside and document notes on laptop. There will be walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as books
• papers
• etc.; accessing transportation; and driving a government vehicle. 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/. Duties Patient Data Entry Utilize word processing software for document management
• printer activation
• text editing
• and formatting reports Use the Electronic Health Record system and VHA-approved reporting tools like CPRS to document and capture needed data accurately and promptly Follow policies on clinical documentation
• ensuring records are thorough
• timely
• and precise Record clinical
• safety
• and quality concerns file Disruptive Behavior Reports for disruptive behavior at SAVAHCS
• CBOCs
• or community sites Direct Patient Care & Screening Serve as a liaison advocating for Veterans
• communicating needs to the Care Coordination team Meet with Veterans at bedside alone when appropriate Respond courteously and promptly to phone inquiries
• respecting privacy rules
• and provide information to Veterans
• families
• VA staff
• and the public Participate in discharge planning and treatment team meetings to ensure timely
• appropriate care and smooth transitions Coordinate follow-up services and engage community resources as needed Provide education on health conditions
• VA benefits
• advance directives
• guardianship
• insurance
• and co-pays refer Veterans to appropriate resources Assist with bedside completion of the 1010EC form for placements in community or residential facilities Discharge Planning Assistance Support Veterans' needs
• communicate concerns to the Care Coordination team
• and meet with Veterans and families at bedside in acute care settings Referrals & Service Coordination Serve as a liaison
• facilitating discharge care planning and referrals to programs such as homelessness services
• PACT
• or mental health Complete referral packets for various care settings
• including rehab
• assisted living
• and nursing homes Use HEAPlus for applying for benefits like AHCCCS
• Nutrition Assistance
• and other programs Perform other duties as assigned

Work Schedule:

Monday through Friday

• 07:30 a.m
• 4:00 p.

m

Virtual:

This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Social Services Assistant/PD145780

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:

Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized