Senior Social Worker - Program of Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers

Veterans Health Administration • Kansas City, MO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker will provide specialized consultation on administrative and clinical considerations of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) within the Caregiver Support Program (CSP). PCAFC provides education and training, respite care, mental health services, beneficiary travel, a monthly stipend payment, and access to health care through CHAMPVA for eligible participants. The position supports day-to-day CSP operations and works with Veterans, caregivers, colleagues, and community providers to coordinate services and maintain quality care.

The role requires advanced-practice social work expertise in a specialized area, including clinical assessment and intervention, consultation, staff development, and contribution to program policies and practice guidelines. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available.

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.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, in a specialized area of social work practice; one year must be equivalent to GS-11.
• Advanced-practice-level state license or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by an applicable state grandfathering provision; California licenses are subject to the state's own examination requirements.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial and/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 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 in social work and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to stated exceptions for non-citizens when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, physical evaluation/examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete the required online onboarding and application documentation.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of caregiver support programs and resources.
• Experience leading groups or educational sessions.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Experience tracking program outcomes or data.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex program guidelines and policies.
• Certification or other post-master's specialty training, curriculum/coursework, internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience may be held by senior social workers.

Responsibilities

• Assist with day-to-day operations of the Caregiver Support Program and ensure compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office initiatives.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs as assigned.
• Serve on facility, VISN, and national committees, work groups, and task forces, or in the community, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor or Chief of Social Work Services.
• Conduct regular home visits to Veterans and caregivers participating in PCAFC.
• Respond to calls from the National Caregiver Support Hotline, PATS-R inquiries, other phone calls, and general inquiries regarding CSP.
• Assist with general tasks associated with the program.
• Refer individuals to VA medical and mental health treatment, other VA services and benefits, community-based social services, and non-VA entitlement programs.
• Collaborate with CSP team members to provide comprehensive health care services to Veterans and promote equitable access to service and benefits and high-quality care.
• Provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Develop and implement methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment services, and design system changes.
• Write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines related to the service delivery area.

Benefits

• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, eligible-child, cost, and monthly maximum limits.
• 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.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.

What This Job Offers

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