Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Lincoln, NE

1d

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves in an outpatient mental health clinic as part of a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. Under a social work supervisor, the incumbent provides advanced clinical social work services and participates in weekly case review and discussion. The role supports Veterans with complex health care and psychosocial needs and requires independence, case management, clinical oversight, and creative problem solving.

The position focuses on timely access to mental health services and coordination with VA services to provide Veteran-centric treatment. The Senior Social Worker provides clinical and administrative consultation, uses advanced clinical expertise to interpret information and identify treatment options, and maintains open-access availability to determine appropriate service levels and settings. The role also includes risk assessment, clinical and psychosocial assessment, triage, crisis intervention, and cross-coverage for BHIP Care Coordinators at other locations as needed.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. Reimbursement may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position; ad-hoc telework is indicated.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Have a 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.
• Be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Have at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Hold state licensure or certification at the advanced practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions.
• Meet the requirements to provide supervision for licensure in the state where licensed at the advanced practice level, and document relevant qualifications.
• Demonstrate skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Demonstrate ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Demonstrate ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Demonstrate ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Submit a transcript with the application.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, onboarding, acceptable identification, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the assigned interdisciplinary BHIP team, supporting timely access to mental health services and collaboration with VA services to provide Veteran-centric treatment.
• Provide clinical and administrative consultation to BHIP team members, VA health care providers, and facility-based committees regarding BHIP clinics.
• Use advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and identify viable treatment options.
• Maintain open-access availability to help determine appropriate levels and settings for service engagement and utilization based on established protocols and processes.
• Assess high-risk factors, including suicidal or homicidal ideation, and acute needs for VA or community-based services.
• Complete clinical and psychosocial assessments and screenings to identify Veterans’ needs, strengths, abilities, and preferences.
• Provide triage support, including notifying and assigning Veterans to team members for same-day or scheduled appointments.
• Provide crisis intervention in collaboration with the multidisciplinary treatment team for Veterans experiencing social or mental health crises.
• Provide cross-coverage for BHIP Care Coordinators at other BHIP locations as needed.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, of up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child care subsidy eligibility for qualifying full-time employees, subject to the stated income and other conditions.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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