Senior Social Worker

Full Job Description

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is currently seeking a Senior Social Worker to provide comprehensive, culturally responsive healthcare navigation and case management services to Native American Veterans residing in rural areas.

This position aims to enhance access, continuity, and quality of care across VA facilities, Tribal and Indian Health Service (IHS), Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs), and community providers.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited.

A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work.

Licensure: Candidate must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.

This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.

Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.

Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.

Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Preferred Experience: Over two years of experience working with Native American populations, with expertise in population health management and the ability to independently navigate complex systems.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Responsible for delivering healthcare navigation and advanced case management for Native American Veterans in rural areas, including outreach, care coordination, and brief evidence-based interventions (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychoeducation) to enhance self-management and engagement.

Facilitates shared decision-making, incorporating cultural values into care plans with Veterans and families.

Acts as a program expert on Native American initiatives; analyzes effectiveness, develops metrics, monitors utilization, and implements data-driven improvements to reduce disparities.

Prepares reports for leadership and participates in projects, committees, and cross-agency initiatives.

Provides technical assistance, training, and consultation on culturally responsive care and rural outreach.

Builds strong relationships with Tribal governments, clinics, VA staff, and community partners to develop referral pathways and coordinate care.

Conducts telehealth and in-home visits for Veterans with travel limitations, utilizing government vehicles, to ensure accessible, equitable care.

Key duties include outreach and engagement, biopsychosocial assessments, shared decision-making, care coordination, telehealth and home visits, referrals, and Veteran education.

Maintains accurate documentation, serves as a liaison between VA and Tribal/community health programs, and provides training on culturally competent care.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized