Senior Social Worker (Inpatient Acute Psychiatry Unit) - EDRP

Veterans Health Administration • Waco, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves in an inpatient acute psychiatry unit and provides specialized social work and mental health services to Veterans as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team. The role involves assessment, treatment planning, evidence-based interventions, continuity-of-care support, clinical documentation, and consultation to medical center staff. The full performance level is GS-12.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. The program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years); former EDRP participants are ineligible. The position is not virtual. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with one of the following schedules: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Telework is ad hoc. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Applicants must have a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and an independent state license or certification to practice social work at the master's level. Senior-level qualifications include at least two years of post-advanced-practice clinical licensure experience, including one year equivalent to GS-11, as well as advanced practice licensure or certification and the ability to provide supervision for licensure, unless applicable grandfathering provisions apply. Candidates must demonstrate the specified specialized clinical, consultation, evaluation, and practice-development competencies. The work is primarily sedentary, though it may involve movement between work areas, walking or standing for meetings, and carrying or lifting items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• 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.
• Current state license or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; the license or certification must remain full, valid, and unrestricted.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions; 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 on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, physical evaluation, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet application and required-document submission requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Full and unrestricted licensure.
• Prior experience working in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
• Prior experience working in an inpatient unit or similar setting.
• Training in brief psychotherapy models and treatment.
• Experience interacting with and participating in multidisciplinary treatment teams in a residential or inpatient setting.
• Training in evidence-based psychotherapies appropriate to the position.

Responsibilities

• Use knowledge of lifespan human development, research- and theory-based interventions, family and system interaction, diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice, and assessment tools.
• Provide evidence-based treatment interventions.
• Participate as a member of a multidisciplinary clinical team providing mental health services.
• Contribute assessment information and develop detailed treatment plans for Veterans served by the program.
• Assist the Suicide Prevention Team in ensuring continuity of care for Veterans recently hospitalized at non-VA facilities.
• Use computer software for drafting documents, managing data, maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.
• Serve as an advisor, consultant, or resource to medical center staff.
• Participate in medical center hospital committees as directed.
• Maintain appropriate patient records and follow-up data.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• Follow CPRS documentation procedures, including documentation timeliness and patient checkout procedures such as entering diagnostic and procedure codes.
• Attend administrative and informational meetings held by CTVHCS and MH&BM management.
• Attend Psychology Service, Medical Staff, and MH&BM staff meetings and comply with Psychology Service peer review procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on clinic needs.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; award may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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