Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Shreveport, LA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker is a Senior Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Mental Health Service Line and Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The role provides independent, expert clinical care in an outpatient mental health setting to Veterans with serious or severe mental health needs and crises who require continuing professional psychological support.

As a BHIP psychotherapist, the Senior Social Worker collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, provides evidence-based psychotherapy and counseling, and delivers screening, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for a range of psychiatric disorders. The position emphasizes time-limited, evidence-based approaches and shared decision-making in developing treatment plans. The social worker also supports discharge planning, psychoeducation, care coordination with community providers, and consultation on social work and behavioral health matters.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and may change based on facility needs. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. Work is performed in an office or clinic setting. The position is permanent and full-time. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and application requirements; awards may be up to $200,000, with the amount and eligibility period determined by the program office.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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 the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: 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 in 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, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and meet background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and meet the announcement’s application documentation requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification.

Nice To Haves

• Training and proficiency in at least two evidence-based therapy techniques.
• Skills in patient engagement, crisis response, interdisciplinary collaboration, recovery-oriented care, and adaptability.
• Data-informed clinical decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of community and VA resources.
• Specialty certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the assigned BHIP interdisciplinary team to ensure Veterans’ needs are met and support optimal clinical care.
• Provide evidence-based interventions and psychotherapy using at least two relevant evidence-based treatment modalities.
• Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and counseling to Veterans and family members as indicated by assessment.
• Conduct screening, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for a variety of psychiatric disorders, emphasizing time-limited, evidence-based approaches.
• Develop treatment plans with Veterans using shared decision-making.
• Complete discharge plans when patients reach their identified goals, integrating internal and external support resources as applicable.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention.
• Consult and coordinate with community providers, following HIPAA practices, to support psychosocial recovery.
• Provide professional advice and consultation related to professional social work and behavioral health.
• Assist in designing and implementing effective treatment strategies to meet Veteran needs.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards of 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 for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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