Senior Social Worker-Hud Vash

Veterans Health Administration • Hammond, LA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides advanced-practice clinical psychological assessment and treatment to eligible Veterans and their family members. The role addresses complex biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs requiring clinical oversight and creative problem-solving. The position provides mental health treatment, psychosocial interventions, and case management, including services for Veterans experiencing homelessness. It also involves community-based work and home visits using government vehicles, consultation with staff, crisis assessment, treatment planning, discharge planning, and coordination with VA and community resources.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the schedule may change based on facility needs. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. The role is based in an office/clinic setting and requires independent operation of a government vehicle. It is a GS-12 position in the Excepted Service. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station authorization are not available.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. The program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years); former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; 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, subject to applicable grandfathering provisions.
• 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; experience should be in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by an applicable state grandfathering provision; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated 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 into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure effectiveness of social work practice and services, using 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, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to independently operate a government vehicle and provide a clean driving record from the DMV during pre-employment.
• Must pass a pre-placement examination and required background/security investigation, complete onboarding and application requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with homeless populations and/or providing community case management.
• Ability to work independently, conduct assessments, develop and implement care plans, and provide clinical interventions.
• 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

• Provide mental health treatment, psychosocial interventions, and case management for a broad range of medical and mental health issues.
• Conduct intakes of Veterans seeking homeless services, including HUD-VASH, Grant and Per Diem, and Health Care for Homeless Veterans, following established referral and screening procedures.
• Provide specialized, intensive case management and psychosocial treatment and intervention for complex physical or medical illness.
• Drive government vehicles to conduct home visits and perform work in the community.
• Provide independent consultation to staff about Veterans’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans.
• Conduct rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans for admission to mental health and/or medical inpatient programs.
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, consumers, stakeholders, and community agencies.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine the needs of Veterans and family members.
• Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and ensure plans are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Act as a liaison between the VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties as needed.
• Address advance directives in accordance with work-area standards.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility, with potential reimbursement of up to $200,000 subject to approval and eligibility requirements.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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