Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs

Full Job Description

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.

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until June 30, 2026, or until the position is filled.

The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 23, 2026.

Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled.

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

Basic Requirements: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken & written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

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).

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

Licensure - Persons hired or reassigned 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/.

Exception - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.

This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level & above, the candidate must be licensed or certified.

VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.

Grandfathering Provision.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (9/10/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series & grade held, including positive education & licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-9 (Entry level) Experience, Education, & Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions & counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, & survivors.

Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members, & to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, & assistance needed.

Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups to achieve treatment goals.

This requires judgment & skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.

Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationships & communicate with clients, staff, & representatives of community agencies.

Fundamental knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, & treatment procedures.

This includes acute, chronic, & traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications & their effects/side effects; & medical terminology.

Individuals assigned as GS-9 grade level, duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives & advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA & community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran & family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans & their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, & interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal & external resources to educate the Veteran &/or family members/caregivers & assist with the appropriate referrals.

Social Worker GS-11 (Full-performance) Licensure Requirement. You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

Experience or Education Requirement.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11, you must possess a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) & licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.

OR A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.

Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives & advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies; assessing the psychosocial functioning & needs of patients & their family members.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community & other governmental agencies for services, & ability to coordinate services.

Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments & treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, & other backgrounds.

Knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities & treatment procedures (i.e.

acute, chronic & traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications & their effects/side effects, & medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.

Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, & groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, & social problems to achieve treatment goals.

Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, & other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients & the impact of psychosocial problems on health care & compliance with treatment.

Preferred Experience: Extensive experience in working with PTSD, including familiarity with cognitive behavior therapy (CPT) for PTSD, prolonged exposure (PE), written exposure therapy (WET) for PTSD, & other evidence-based protocols (EBPs).

Proficient in suicide prevention & capable in mental health crisis care. Completion of evidence-based protocols (EBPs) training with certification.

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-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically & mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others.

Visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses are permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, & manual dexterity.

Moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). Occasionally, exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Major Duties:

Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis & treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial & psychiatric diagnoses as a result of a complete assessment, utilizing appropriate assessment tools, within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

Provides individual, group & family psychotherapy interventions used in the treatment of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, serious mental health disorders, & comorbid mental health needs.

Implements use of Measurement Based Care for measuring effectiveness of clinical practice & services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services.

Demonstrates the ability to design changes based on empirical findings as well as to provide a flexible work schedule to accommodate emergency or urgent care matters.

Interviews veterans & their family members/significant others to establish facts about the veteran's situation, presenting problems & their causes, & the impact of such problems on the veteran's functioning & health as part of a psychosocial assessment.

Uses subjective & objective data in making clinical assessment of the veteran's needs.

Uses advanced clinical training, & experience to identify viable treatment options & makes appropriate referrals for care.

Independently evaluates the client's situation, including the veteran's reaction & ability to deal with it, & arrives at a reasoned conclusion.

Assesses at-risk factors & develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran & family or significant others.

Assesses serious & complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, & other high-risk diagnoses.

Makes independent professional decisions & recommendations for treatment.

On an outpatient basis, finds a suitable means of treatment to help veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations.

Develops treatment plans in coordination with BHIP Team Members, including goals for treatment.

Provides quality therapy by utilizing Evidence Based Psychotherapies (EBP) in the treatment of veterans served.

Responsible for clinical practice in the areas & programs to which assigned, including services that are a key component of treatment.

Evaluates his/her practice as a clinician on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, or other organized means.

Is active in & accepts responsibility for the development & maintenance of professional standards of treatment.

Acts as a community & family liaison by initiating & maintaining necessary contact with the patient, his/her family, VA Healthcare System service programs & personnel, mental health agencies, & other related resource agencies.

Provides support & consultation to these varying individuals, programs, & agencies as necessary or in the best interest of the patient, following VA rules & regulations regarding confidentiality & the interchange of information.

Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines & levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure.

Attends all appropriate meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, staff meetings, departmental/section staff meetings, other committees as appropriate, etc.) Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary & 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) & 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: Ad hoc.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54723-A / 54724-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized