Senior Social Worker - Veterans Justice Program and Grant and Per Diem Liaison

Veterans Health Administration • Fairbanks, AK

7d

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves the Veterans Justice Program (VJP) and acts as the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Liaison. The role provides advanced social work and case-management services to justice-involved Veterans, including outreach and needs assessments in correctional facilities and treatment courts, referrals and care coordination during community reentry, and assistance accessing VA health care, mental health services, benefits, and community resources. The position works with justice-system stakeholders and interdisciplinary teams and may operate in settings with varying security levels and challenging situations, following VA safety protocols.

The position also oversees assigned GPD programs, including contract administration, enrollment, billing, payment, outreach, referrals, admission procedures, clinical case reviews, audits, accreditation support, performance measurement, and improvement planning. It participates in program meetings, conference calls, and training; maintains compliance with local policies, documentation standards, and data requirements such as HOMES; documents patient interactions and prepares reports. The role provides leadership and specialized consultation and may support training and development of social work staff.

This is an open continuous announcement that remains open until filled or September 30, 2027. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with compressed or flexible scheduling available. Ad hoc telework may be available; this is not a virtual position. A recruitment incentive may be authorized. The position may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and approval. The full performance level is GS-12.

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; licensure or certification must remain full, valid, and unrestricted.
• For the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions; ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities for specialty programs or populations, including 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 methods for measuring social-work practice and service effectiveness, using outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Valid state-issued driver's license and clearance to operate a government-owned vehicle.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.
• Meet applicable federal education-recognition requirements; foreign education used for qualification requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or 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.
• Prior work or military service that may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual.
• Eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program requirements and approval.

Responsibilities

• Engage with judges, court personnel, correctional administrators, and other justice-system stakeholders to develop, review, and maintain policies and procedures supporting justice-involved Veterans.
• Conduct outreach in correctional facilities and treatment court programs; identify and interview Veterans and complete comprehensive needs assessments.
• Coordinate referrals, service linkages, care planning, and continuity of care during transitions to the community, including release from jail or prison.
• Case-manage Veterans involved in treatment courts or recently released from correctional institutions, facilitating access to VA health care, mental health services, benefits, and community resources.
• Perform duties across varying security levels while following VA safety protocols in environments that may involve psychiatric crises, acute medical issues, or high-risk behaviors.
• Oversee assigned GPD programs, including contract administration, enrollment, billing, timely payments, and community outreach and partnerships, including in rural areas.
• Establish and maintain referral, evaluation, and admission procedures; conduct complex clinical case reviews; ensure compliance through audits; and support accreditation activities.
• Monitor performance measures, implement improvement plans, and participate in leadership and service-line or team meetings.
• Provide advanced social work services, including case work, counseling, discharge planning, case management, and continuity-of-care coordination with interdisciplinary teams.
• Coordinate community-based services and advocate for comprehensive service delivery for Veterans.
• Participate in VJP and GPD conference calls and homeless-program training, and ensure adherence to local policies, documentation standards, and data-submission requirements such as HOMES.
• Document patient interactions, prepare reports in accordance with VAHCS policy, participate in treatment planning, and serve as a social work expert across teams.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff, as appropriate to the assignment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Child-care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility conditions; subsidy is up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement may be available for eligible selectees, with an award of up to $200,000 subject to approval and program terms.
• Recruitment incentive may be authorized.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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