Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Clarksville, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves as the VA Liaison and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) representative to a military installation. The role coordinates the transfer of inpatient and outpatient health care from a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) to an appropriate VHA facility and represents VA in patient care, transfer, and outreach activities. The Liaison manages the day-to-day operations of the initiative, supports program effectiveness, and works with MTF and Department of Defense (DoD) staff to improve the transition process.

The position provides education to Service Members and families about VHA health benefits, resources, and the Whole Health System of Care. It uses advanced clinical skills to assess psychosocial needs and the ability to understand and follow treatment plans, and may provide brief psychotherapy when clinically appropriate. The role also develops outreach and community education for active duty, reserve, and National Guard members regarding readjustment, medical, mental health, and community services for returning combat and non-combat Veterans.

The position is full-time, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not virtual; ad hoc telework is listed. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

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 the GS-12 Senior Social Worker grade: at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including at least one year equivalent to GS-11.
• Advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the stated state grandfathering provision; California licenses must meet the stated examination condition.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated 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 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, using 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 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.
• State driver’s license and VA authorization to drive a government vehicle.
• Effective public-speaking skills and ability to communicate orally and in writing with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to meet physical requirements that include lifting 25–30-pound boxes of outreach materials and standing and sitting while working at a computer.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required onboarding and background/security screening; a one- or two-year trial period applies.

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.
• Prior work experience or military service may be considered for annual-leave accrual credit, subject to request and approval.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships and collaborate with MTF social workers, nurses, case managers, managed care staff, and discharge planners to identify patients ready for transfer to VHA and obtain referral information and authorization for VHA treatment of active-duty members.
• Meet with Service Members and/or family members to explain VHA health benefits and resources addressing medical and psychosocial issues identified in the treatment plan.
• Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial situations, understanding of and ability to comply with the MTF treatment plan, and special needs that may affect psychosocial functioning.
• Conduct brief psychotherapy when clinically appropriate.
• Collaborate with MTF staff to identify the receiving VHA facility and an accepting physician.
• Transmit information through PDX or Network Health Exchange (NHE) to support registration or enrollment at the receiving VHA facility.
• Document Liaison activities in CPRS using the Seamless Transition VA/DOD Liaison Note template and in the MTF2VA tracking system or equivalent.
• Prepare reports, briefs, and presentations for VA, DoD, Congressional staff, and community organizations about the Seamless Transition process and program operations.
• Manage the Liaison initiative’s day-to-day operations and support program effectiveness and service-pattern modifications to improve customer service.
• Identify transition-system gaps and collaborate with MTF, DoD, and other departments to improve the seamless transition process.
• Educate Service Members and Veterans about VHA’s Whole Health System of Care.
• Develop and implement outreach and community-based education for active duty, reserve, and National Guard members about readjustment, medical, mental health, and community services available to returning combat and non-combat Veterans.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff as applicable to the senior social worker assignment.
• Collaborate with treatment-team members to provide comprehensive care and promote equitable access to services and benefits.
• Serve on facility, VISN, national, or community committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.

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.
• 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 with family income below $144,000 may qualify for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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