Senior Social Worker (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration•Louisville, KY

About The Position

This full-time position serves as a Senior Social Worker in the Mental Health service line within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The role provides specialized treatment for complex physical or mental illness and advanced case management for veterans with serious conditions, including polytrauma, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addictions. The social worker may make psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The position also offers consultation to colleagues and students, monitors the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of program services, and uses data to develop and implement improvements. It provides assessments and referrals to community agencies and helps ensure staff have current knowledge of community and VA resources. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program and application requirements. An award may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years; approval and eligibility are determined after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

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.
State licensure or certification at the advanced practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the stated grandfathering provisions; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure in a specialized area of social work practice, including one year equivalent to GS-11.
Demonstrated advanced practice skills and judgment and expertise in a specialized area of practice.
Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in 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, using outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes.
Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and role-model effective social work practice.
Ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception under VA policy.
Must meet applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, influenza vaccination, and application-document requirements.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

Certification or other post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
Experience or qualifications under the VA grandfathering provision, where applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide specialized treatment for complex physical or mental illness, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veterans within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Make psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Provide advanced case management interventions for veterans with polytrauma injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, and other serious disorders.
Consult with colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment in specialty areas, offer professional opinions based on experience and expertise, and role-model effective social work practice.
Monitor the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of services within the program area.
Review and assess relevant data and develop and implement improvement ideas.
Provide assessments and referrals to community agencies and ensure staff have current knowledge of community and VA resources.
As applicable to the assignment, support social-work research and management information activities, including developing and conducting research and program evaluations, analyzing results, and disseminating findings.
As applicable, consult on research methods, prepare scientific articles and reports, review research proposals, and participate in research-related committees.
As applicable, coordinate and develop data elements, information systems, and reports; assess project staffing needs; and submit progress and final reports.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with a potential award of up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program approval and eligibility requirements.
Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on the position and eligibility.

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