Social Worker (Family Advocacy)

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: This is an open continuous announcement. Multiple vacancies exist and may be filled from this announcement at any of the locations listed. We accept applications on an ongoing basis; qualified applicants will be considered as vacancies become available.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

• Represent and serve as an advocate for the program and their Families in obtaining services and support for their needs.
• Conduct individual, family, and group outpatient therapy sessions.
• Develop treatment plans based on identified problems, psychosocial factors and treatment capabilities.
• Perform crisis intervention services and appropriate triage to assist in the protection and safety of victims and families.
• Conduct comprehensive and complex risk assessments, clinical interviews, and psychosocial assessment of children and adults.
• Perform crisis intervention, risk and clinical assessments, case management, command consultation and administrative tasks to prevent and treat child and spouse/intimate partner abuse.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• A Personnel Security Investigation is required
• This position has specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis.
• This position is subject to annual seasonal influenza vaccinations. Applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to sign a statement consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• All Health Care Providers must be able to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) training and certification that is sponsored or endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Current Advanced Life Support or other advanced certification does not supersede BLS completion.
• Applicants must be able to fulfill credentialing requirements and obtain and maintain appropriate/relevant clinical privileges.
• This position may require incumbent to work on call during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and/or varying work schedules.
• This position is an Inclement Weather position.
• This position may be required to testify before agencies and/or in court.
• This position may be require the incumbent to work other than normal duty hours.
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 5% of the time.
• Additional requirements may be determined as positions arise and will be communicated during the hiring process if you are selected.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirements for the Social Worker (Family Advocacy) GS-09:

Degree: Master's degree (or higher degree) in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Specialized Experience: One year of experience using automated systems, preparing records and documents; preparing reports; obtaining data to compile information and determination of abuse or neglect for case file.

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements total is at least 100% (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

Basic Requirements for the Social Worker (Family Advocacy) GS-11:

Degree: Master's degree (or higher degree) in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes, in a family advocacy environment, assisting with assessing incidents of abuse, assisting with providing counseling to abusers or victims, and assisting with developing treatment plans and /or recommendations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Social Work Education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

AND

License Requirement for Social Worker (Family Advocacy): A current, active, valid, unrestricted clinical license to practice Social Work independently, offered by a U.S. State, District of Columbia, commonwealth, territory or jurisdiction. (Note: You must provide a copy of your license with your application.)

Basic Requirements for the Social Worker (Family Advocacy) GS-12:

Degree : Master's degree (or higher degree) in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service which includes in a family advocacy environment, assessing incidents of abuse, providing counseling to abusers or victims, and developing behavior health treatment plans. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

AND

License Requirement for Social Worker (Family Advocacy) : A current, active, valid, unrestricted clinical license to practice Social Work independently, offered by a U.S. State, District of Columbia, commonwealth, territory or jurisdiction. (Note: You must provide a copy of your license with your application.) NOTE: Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.

For this job at the GS-12 grade level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience aloneno substitution of education for experience.

Selective Placement Factors: This position at the GS-11 and GS-12 grade level requires 2 years of experience working in the field of child abuse and domestic abuse.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

• A physical maybe required.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a Medical Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• Temporary Positions : A temporary position is time limited and may be extended in one-year increments to a maximum of three years and may be terminated at any time during the duration of the appointment.
• Term positions : A term position is time-limited and may be extended to a maximum of eight years.
• Relocation/Recruitment incentive or service credit for non-Federal work experience (advanced leave accrual) may be authorized if determined to be in the organization's interest.
• THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT WITH A CLOSING DATE OF 11:59 EST 11/10/2026 .

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.