Social Worker (HudVash)
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: March 24, 2026 (3 days ago)
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Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
Salary
$102,460 - $133,201
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Social Services jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $21,996 - $27,534
Typical requirements: No experience required. High school diploma or equivalent.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves providing advanced counseling and support to veterans recovering from trauma, helping them through individual, group, or family sessions and managing their care plans.
It's ideal for an experienced social worker who is passionate about mental health and has a strong background in trauma recovery.
The role offers benefits like student loan repayment and is based in Missouri with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.
You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
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.
Have a master's degree in social work 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 status 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 the master's degree in social work.
Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure.
Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Loss of Licensure or Certification.
Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.
Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency.
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). A current, valid state-issued Driver's License. Note: Real ID is now required.
Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education.
The candidate 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.
Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice.
Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
Licensure/Certification.
Senior social workers 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.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
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.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.
May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. Major Duties:
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include, but not limited to: Complete thorough psychosocial, risk, and complex differential diagnostic assessments, as clinically indicated, to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
The incumbent must be able to utilize assessments to inform treatment planning. Independently develop a veteran centered treatment plan for Veterans, or to contribute to an existing treatment plan.
Sets SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based) treatment goals/objectives with the Veteran, family members/significant others and in collaboration with the team (e.g.
team-based care), as applicable. All goals/objectives are aimed at maximizing Veteran independence and recovery.
Independently provide EBP, EBPI, and evidence informed episodes of care to treat and assist Veterans with recovering from a wide range of mental health disorders, including but not limited to: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Use disorders, Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Psychotic disorders, Bipolar Disorders, and Personality Disorders.
Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Trauma Recovery Program and their families.
Provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will (including psychiatric interventions) and will refer Veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.
Utilize a variety of service delivery modalities including face to face and virtual care. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program.
You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date.
Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Contact visn15edrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance.
Telework: Ad-Hoc - This position is authorized for telework but has not been authorized as virtual or remote (i.e., the must be able to work at the location the position is being announced for).
VA supports the use of telework to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies.
Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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