Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Marion, IN

12h

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves as the MHCM Team Leader, developing, directing, and coordinating intensive case management services delivered by the MHCM team to Veterans in the community. The position conducts and evaluates program operations, including program and staff cost effectiveness, quality performance, outcomes, clinic effectiveness, and productivity. The incumbent analyzes programs, assesses outcomes, and makes recommendations as needed.

The role is divided equally between administrative and clinical duties. Administratively, the Team Leader directs daily program operations, leads staff meetings and patient-care planning, coordinates with inpatient teams to support continuity of care, prepares reports, maintains medical records and program data, supervises training, and collects clinical data for program evaluation as needed. Clinically, the position provides recovery-oriented outpatient treatment and case management for psychiatric patients who are chronic users of inpatient resources. The incumbent supports adult and geriatric patients, maintains links with community agencies, and uses individual, family, and group therapies and educational programs to provide and document psychosocial treatment and evaluation. The patient population includes people and families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc in accordance with agency policy; the position is not virtual. Regular driving and travel throughout the medical center, Veteran home visits, and prolonged walking and standing are required. A valid driver's license is required to transport Veterans in a government vehicle.

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; credentials must be maintained.
• For the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: 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.
• Advanced-practice-level state license or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the stated state grandfathering exception; 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 social work practice and service effectiveness, use outcomes 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.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Valid driver's license to transport Veterans in a government vehicle.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the required online onboarding and application documentation; selected applicants must meet identification requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for EDRP.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing outpatient mental health care.
• Certification or other post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty, including a defined course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, direct, and coordinate intensive case management services provided by the MHCM team to Veterans in the community.
• Conduct and evaluate program operations, including cost effectiveness, quality performance, outcomes, clinic effectiveness, and productivity; analyze results and make recommendations.
• Direct program operations through daily staff meetings, evaluating ongoing needs and assigning administrative and clinical tasks.
• Lead team staffing on patient selection and screening, treatment plans and goals, progress evaluations, discharge planning, and aftercare.
• Coordinate with inpatient teams to support continuity of care and provide consultation regarding clinical needs, treatment plans, and case management services.
• Promote appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge in alignment with program goals and individual treatment plans.
• Prepare and submit reports, maintain appropriate documentation in patient medical records, and enter clinical and research data into computer systems.
• Complete MHCM forms to evaluate and monitor service delivery and outcomes.
• Supervise training of social workers, social work associates, volunteers, and students; participate in orientation, training, and staff development.
• Collect clinical data as needed for MHCM program evaluation using established protocols.
• Provide recovery-oriented outpatient treatment and case management to psychiatric patients who are chronic users of inpatient resources.
• Provide regular clinical support and/or treatment to adult or geriatric patients.
• Maintain outreach and linkages with community agencies and groups to support Veterans' adjustment in community settings.
• Use individual, family, and group therapies and educational programs to provide and document psychosocial treatment and evaluation.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan payment reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• 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