Senior Social Worker (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Sikeston, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker (BHIP) provides clinical assessment and treatment services within the Mental Health Behavioral Service line, including work with patients with opiate addictions. The role also includes administrative duties that support treatment-team operations and coordination of care. The position is not virtual; adhoc telework is available only as needed. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., off-duty. Occasional travel is required.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years; applications must be submitted within four months of appointment. The position is a GS-12 role. Senior-level qualification requires advanced-practice clinical social work experience and licensure, along with demonstrated specialized clinical, consultation, and practice-improvement skills.

The role requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level. Senior social workers must also hold advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions. Physical requirements include light lifting and carrying, use of both hands, rapid mental and muscular coordination, specified correctable vision, hearing (hearing aids permitted), and emotional and mental stability.

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.
• At least two years of experience post advanced-practice clinical licensure, in a specialized area of social work practice; one year must be 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.
• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, 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 methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services, applying outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and 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-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including background/security investigation and physical examination; applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated VA employment are subject to urinalysis.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Completion of required application and onboarding documentation.

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.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical assessments and diagnose mental disorders.
• Educate patients, family members, and significant others.
• Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
• Consult with professional staff at John J. Pershing VAMC and community providers regarding clinical assessment findings and treatment plans for patients with opiate addictions.
• Develop, implement, and document psychotherapeutic treatment plans for patients receiving services within the Mental Health Behavioral Service line.
• Follow operational policies and procedures for the treatment team.
• Coordinate services by facilitating liaisons with other health care programs.
• Meet national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for patients.
• Follow CPRS documentation procedures and timeliness standards, including proper patient checkout procedures such as entering diagnostic and procedure codes.
• Attend and participate in administrative and informational meetings.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, potentially up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and approval.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000; subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to $416.66 per month.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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