Senior Social Worker (VA/DoD Liaison)

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Bliss, TX

6d

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves as the VA/DoD Liaison, helping ensure a seamless transition of health care for injured or ill Service members and Veterans from a Department of War Military Treatment Facility to an appropriate Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility. The liaison works as an independent practitioner with the MTF treatment team, applying advanced clinical skills and specialized knowledge to support complex discharge planning, coordinate referrals, and connect individuals and their families with appropriate VA services and resources nationwide.

The position manages the day-to-day operations of the VA Liaison initiative and is accountable for program effectiveness and modifications to service patterns that enhance customer service. It involves coordinating with VA and military teams, documenting liaison activity, supporting continuity of care, and communicating the transition process to VA, Department of Defense, Congressional staff, community organizations, and other stakeholders. The role also participates in interdisciplinary and social work meetings and shares relevant clinical knowledge and experience.

This is a GS-12 position. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized at supervisory discretion; the position is not virtual. The work is primarily sedentary, with some movement between work areas and occasional walking or standing for meetings or conferences. The incumbent may carry or lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master’s degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• For the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by applicable state grandfathering provisions; California licensees must meet California’s clinical examination requirements.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines relevant to the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• United States citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Compliance with applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Service on a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated and must be certified in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) certification.
• Prior experience in a similar role or with the population served.
• Clinical supervision certification.
• Quality or utilization management experience.
• Former VA trainee experience.
• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area.

Responsibilities

• Work with the MTF treatment team as an independent practitioner and provide consultation on complex discharge-planning issues.
• Guide Service members and Veterans in navigating VA health care benefits, resources, and facilities, matching their needs with appropriate VHA programs and services.
• Develop relationships and collaborate with MTF social workers, nurses, case managers, managed care staff, and discharge planners to identify individuals ready for discharge to a VA health care facility.
• Obtain referral information and authorization for VHA to treat active-duty Service members, including applicable medical records, referral forms, admission information, clinical and consult orders, or other authorizations.
• Identify health care and psychosocial needs and ensure that requested VHA services and authorizations are specified and completed before transfer to a VA facility.
• Assess the psychosocial circumstances of Service members or Veterans and their families, including ability to understand and comply with treatment plans and any special needs affecting psychosocial functioning.
• Coordinate with the home VA facility Enrollment Coordinator and Military to VA (M2VA) Team to register active-duty members or enroll Veterans.
• Collaborate with the receiving facility’s M2VA Program Manager and Lead Coordinator, when applicable, to initiate and process referrals and care-transfer linkages.
• Document liaison activity in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Federal Case Management Tool (FCMT) or its equivalent.
• Communicate and collaborate with Service members and families about transition plans and identify unique needs to support continuity of care.
• Prepare reports, briefs, and presentations for VA, DOD, Congressional staff, and community organizations about the transition process and VA/DOD Liaison Program.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the VA Liaison initiative and maintain accountability for program effectiveness and service-pattern modifications.
• Interpret applicable VHA administrative and clinical policies, directives, handbooks, patient-care initiatives, VA and VBA procedures, laws, federal regulations, accreditation standards, and other program guidance.
• Collaborate with VA, VHA, VBA, DOD, Veterans Service Organizations, federal agencies, professional organizations, accrediting bodies, and the public.
• Participate in interdisciplinary, facility, and social work meetings as assigned, sharing knowledge and experience relevant to social work practice.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior