Senior Social Worker - EDRP

Veterans Health Administration • Amarillo, TX

1d

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides specialized social work services to veterans admitted to the DOMSUD and SUD Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP). The role combines direct evidence-based clinical treatment with leadership and consultation responsibilities, including contributing to treatment planning and supporting social work staff. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and program approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; the award amount and eligibility period are determined after review. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply.

The position is in the Excepted Service and has a full performance level of GS-12. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework is eligible; the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

The work is primarily sedentary, though it may involve moving between offices and other facilities, walking or standing for meetings or conferences, and carrying or lifting light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.
• For GS-12, 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 the GS-11 grade level.
• Advanced practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the stated state grandfathering provisions.
• 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 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 the effectiveness of social work practice and services, 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 and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must meet background and security investigation requirements and complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of working with veteran and/or military populations.
• Experience with crisis intervention and risk management.
• Experience with evidence-based psychotherapies.
• Clinical proficiency in discharge planning.
• Experience admitting patients for mental health treatment.
• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement short- and long-range social work treatment delivery goals.
• Assist DOMSUD and SUD leadership in developing and implementing policies and procedures concerning clinical treatment and services.
• Support leadership in promoting awareness and implementation of documentation and reporting standards for clinical records, including compliance with JCAHO, CARF, and VAMC requirements.
• Represent the DOMSUD and SUD Team at appropriate Medical Center clinical and administrative meetings, conference calls, and community events.
• Keep DOMSUD and SUD leadership informed through weekly meetings about identified clinical needs, including evidence-based therapies.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned DOMSUD and SUD social work staff.
• Provide direct evidence-based clinical treatment to veterans admitted to the DOMSUD and SUD RRTP, including educational offerings, group and individual therapy, diagnosis, assessments, intakes, discharge planning, and aftercare planning.
• Present clinical matters to the treatment team as part of interdisciplinary treatment planning.
• Serve as a professional consultant on substance use disorder (SUD) issues and DOMSUD levels of treatment for Medical Center staff and community agencies.
• Maintain timely and accurate records in CPRS documentation.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years as determined by the program office.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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