Senior Social Worker - ICMHR

Veterans Health Administration • Colorado Springs, CO

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves as the lead social worker and subject matter expert for an Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) team supporting Veterans living with serious mental illness. ICMHR provides intensive, recovery-oriented services designed to promote independence, stability, and meaningful community living. The program serves Veterans whose complex needs may not be adequately addressed through traditional outpatient care and operates similarly to an Assertive Community Treatment model, delivering individualized interdisciplinary services primarily in community settings.

The position provides comprehensive social work services and coordinates Veterans’ care with VA medical facilities, community health and mental health providers, and agencies serving Veterans, including assisted living facilities. The incumbent travels throughout Eastern Colorado Health Care System facilities, clinics, community-based outpatient clinics, and community centers, and conducts frequent community visits, potentially over long distances.

The role includes clinical social work, case management, coordination and advocacy, consultation, and program development. The Senior Social Worker also provides clinical guidance and may act as a surrogate for the ICMHR Program Manager for CPRS purposes. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

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; for GS-11 and above, licensure or certification is required, subject to stated grandfathering provisions.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, in a specialized area of social work practice, with one year equivalent to the GS-11 level.
• Advanced practice licensure or certification at the state level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the specified state grandfathering exception; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• 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 in 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, using outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to 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.
• Current valid state driver’s license.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, complete onboarding requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete the required application documents and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced clinical experience with individuals living with serious mental illness, particularly in community-based or recovery-oriented settings.
• Proficiency in evidence-based practices such as Social Skills Training, Illness Management and Recovery, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• Experience with Assertive Community Treatment principles, interdisciplinary team collaboration, and intensive case management.
• Experience supervising or mentoring social workers, participating in program development, and leading quality improvement initiatives.
• 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

• Participate on a multidisciplinary team serving Veterans with complex mental health, medical, and co-morbid disorders, or increased risk for mild to moderate disruptive behavior.
• Provide case management for a caseload of Veterans in the ICMHR program.
• Accompany intern or practicum students and GS-9 or GS-11 social workers on home or community visits when a Veteran has a complex presentation.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and lead social worker for the assigned team.
• Act as a surrogate to the ICMHR Program Manager for CPRS purposes, co-signing notes, consults, and orders and providing clinical guidance when appropriate or necessary.
• Provide evidence-based, recovery-oriented practices, including Social Skills Training, Illness Management and Recovery, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Life Goals.
• Coordinate care and advocate for Veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, including linking and referring them to VA medical centers, VA Regional Offices, and community agencies.
• Participate in ICMHR program conference calls and attend training offered by the National ICMHR Program.
• Participate in program planning and development; advise the supervisor of changing caseload trends and recommend program procedure or policy changes based on work experience.
• Provide social work services within accepted professional standards, including individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group education or counseling, discharge planning, crisis intervention and safety planning, treatment planning, case management, and other appropriate services.
• Travel to VA facilities and community locations and conduct community visits to address the needs of Veterans on the caseload.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to individual eligibility and program approval, with an award amount up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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