Senior Social Worker (BHIP) - EDRP

Veterans Health Administration • Waco, TX

1d

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides specialized mental health services to Veterans and their families or significant others. The role includes conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments, making independent psychosocial diagnoses and professional recommendations, developing treatment plans with interdisciplinary team members, and providing individual and group counseling, including psychotherapy in some settings. The social worker serves as a liaison for CTVHCS Mental Health and Behavior Medicine in delivering mental health services to CBOC patients, coordinates screening for specific mental health programs, and provides ongoing treatment according to program guidelines. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The full performance level is GS-12. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 0800–1630. The work is primarily sedentary, with some movement between work areas and occasional travel to meetings or conferences; light lifting of items under 15 pounds may be required.

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; maintain a full, valid, unrestricted independent license or certification.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, 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 in a specialized area of social work.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case-management practice.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causes 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 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.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation and pre-employment requirements, including a physical evaluation and seasonal influenza vaccination program participation.
• Must complete the required application and onboarding requirements; a one- or two-year trial period applies.
• Education used for qualification must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accredited; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience providing individual and group therapy using evidence-based modalities to treat depression and anxiety.
• Two years of experience providing assessments and mental health diagnoses.
• Two years of experience conducting suicide risk screens, assessments, and safety plans.
• Two years of experience serving on a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team.
• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Interview Veterans and their family members or significant others to establish relevant facts and complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments.
• Explain VA treatment and benefit programs.
• Use professional judgment and advanced practice skills to independently evaluate and make psychosocial diagnoses.
• Assess risk factors and develop preliminary disposition plans with Veterans and their families or significant others.
• Make independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action.
• Develop psychosocial treatment plans and goals in coordination with interdisciplinary team members.
• Use available resources and assessment findings to make initial and ongoing decisions about VA and non-VA services and referrals.
• Provide independent consultation and recommendations to interdisciplinary teams regarding treatment courses.
• Serve as liaison for CTVHCS Mental Health and Behavior Medicine in providing mental health services to CBOC patients.
• Coordinate screening for specific mental health programs and provide ongoing treatment according to program guidelines.
• Provide clinical services to Veterans and their families or significant others in support of treatment.
• Provide individual and group counseling, including psychotherapy in some settings, using supportive, evidence-based, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques.
• Maintain an ongoing therapeutic relationship, evaluate progress toward goals, and adjust treatment plans as appropriate.
• Monitor progress and maintain comprehensive documentation.
• Ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders and exercise discretion in adjusting treatment.
• Recommend care and changes to interdisciplinary treatment plans.
• Provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and role-model effective social work practice.
• Develop methods to measure effectiveness of social work services and use outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes.
• Expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with an award amount up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• 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 with total family income below $144,000, up to 25% of eligible costs and 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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