Senior Social Worker (Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker is assigned to the Social Work Service and plans, develops, and implements social work activities within assigned areas of the Mental Health/Behavioral Science Section. The role independently supports Veterans and their families facing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns. The social worker conducts comprehensive psychosocial and diagnostic assessments, develops and updates treatment plans, and uses outcome measures such as the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

The incumbent collaborates with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment teams on resident-centered treatment planning and timely discharge planning. The role also connects Veterans and families with VA and community resources, provides consultation and education about benefits and services, completes high-risk mental health assessments, and advises colleagues on psychosocial needs and their effect on care planning. Additional duties include committee participation, support and orientation for less experienced social workers, performance-improvement data work, and maintaining productivity and quality standards.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual but is eligible for ad hoc telework. It is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual and program eligibility and approval; the program may reimburse up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.

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, including experience in a specialized area of social work practice.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to stated state grandfathering exceptions; 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 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 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 spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Meet applicable onboarding, background/security investigation, identification, and pre-employment physical requirements; comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

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.
• Interest in serving as a preceptor for social work students.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and implement social work activities in assigned segments of the Mental Health/Behavioral Science Section.
• Independently work with Veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Complete comprehensive psychosocial and diagnostic assessments of Veterans and/or their families.
• Conduct ongoing assessments and update treatment plans as clinically indicated and when psychosocial interventions are completed or change.
• Use specialized outcome measures, including the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM), to measure treatment effectiveness and outcomes.
• Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with Veterans, families, and team members to develop and implement resident-centered treatment plans.
• Facilitate timely discharge planning with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Act as a liaison between Veterans and/or families and VA and community resources to support delivery of services.
• Educate and consult with Veterans and families about community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives.
• Consult with treatment team and staff members about psychosocial needs and how psychosocial problems affect health care planning, treatment compliance, and discharge planning.
• Maintain knowledge of Veteran benefits and services, community resources, and referral processes for community and governmental programs or agencies.
• Complete mental health high-risk assessments and make appropriate referrals after assessing relevant factors.
• Serve on facility committees, work groups, and task forces as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Chief of Social Work Service.
• Assist with orientation and learning for less experienced social workers and, if interested, serve as a preceptor for social work students.
• Participate in tracking, trending, data validation, and analysis for performance improvement.
• Maintain productivity and quality consistent with assignment complexity and applicable service, Joint Commission, and facility standards.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility, application, and program approval; award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees; specific benefits depend on position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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