Social Services Assistant

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to support health care management officials by analyzing - evaluating - advising and coordinating health care delivery systems and operations as it pertains to activities necessary to support high quality Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) processes and products. The SAMS position renders advice on operational policies and assures these policies conform with and are in support of administrative functions in coordination with the supervisor.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/27/2026. 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 GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: 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. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's 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 GS-4. (NOTE - Transcripts are required if using education for qualification purposes). OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond an Associate's degree. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. (NOTE - Transcripts are required if using education for qualification purposes) For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical Creative Thinking Customer Service Planning and Evaluating Veteran and Customer Focused Critical Thinking

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Advises Veterans and their Next of Kin (NOK) of burial benefits
• Helps Veterans and next of kin prearrange burial - interment - cremation - as desired by Veteran
• Advises surviving relatives about burial benefits and other potential benefits provided by VA
• Reviews daily death notifications and submits completed death certificates to designated Funeral Director and County Registrar's Office
• Maintains and monitors performance measure requirements established by VHA - Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Operations (AUSHO) - VISN and/or facility leadership
• The position collaborates with Fiscal office to financially support SAMS operations
• Assesses past budget requirements - projects future budget needs - submits budget requests and manages program budget
• Informs Veteran - caregiver and NOK of available supportive services within the medical facility - such as Chaplaincy and Social Work - to provide support at end of life and immediately following death
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Social Services Assistant/PD012230 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.