Senior Social Worker (Inpatient Psychiatry)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides clinical case management for the 7West Inpatient Psychiatric Unit within the Acute Care Section of the Mental Health Service line at VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington. The 16-bed, high-intensity unit serves voluntary and involuntary patients and provides scheduled detoxification admissions and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). The social worker conducts psychosocial assessments, facilitates daily group programming, and works with Veterans hospitalized under the Involuntary Treatment Act, including coordination with County Crisis and Commitment Services and providing court testimony as the VA Court Evaluator.

The position provides services within the Social Work Scope of Practice according to Veterans’ needs, acuity, and care preferences. Services include case management, individual, family, and group therapy, discharge planning, resource linkage, and care coordination. The social worker also provides consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and families; consults with team members and leads case consultation; documents care in the electronic health record; contributes to program planning and development; and may supervise students, interns, or unlicensed social workers.

This is a permanent, onsite position in Seattle, Washington, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full performance level is GS-12. Telework and virtual work are not available.

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.
• 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 grandfathering provisions; must be able 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 methods for measuring 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.
• 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.
• Meet the qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date and complete required pre-employment and onboarding processes, including security investigation and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Strong background working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness in acute inpatient psychiatric, psychiatric emergency, or similarly high-acuity behavioral health settings.
• Experience with comprehensive psychosocial assessment, clinical case management, complex discharge planning, individual and group interventions, and coordinating care for patients with significant psychiatric, substance use, medical, housing, and psychosocial needs.
• Experience with involuntary psychiatric treatment, including familiarity with Washington State Involuntary Treatment Act requirements and collaboration with Designated Crisis Responders and the court system; clinical testimony or court evaluator experience is especially relevant.
• Experience functioning independently within a multidisciplinary treatment team, supervising or teaching social work trainees and staff, and contributing to program development, quality improvement, and evidence-based clinical programming.
• Certification or other post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical case management for social work needs on the inpatient psychiatric unit.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and facilitate group programming daily.
• Coordinate care for Veterans hospitalized under the Involuntary Treatment Act with County Crisis and Commitment Services, and provide court testimony as the VA Court Evaluator.
• Provide social work services based on Veteran needs, acuity, and preferences, including case management, individual, family, and group therapy, discharge planning, resource linkage, and care coordination.
• Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and their families on community resources, Advance Directives, VA benefits, budgeting, activities of daily living, and recovery goals.
• Consult with other team and staff members and take a lead clinical role in case consultation.
• Document Veteran care in the electronic health record according to facility policy, VHA Directive 1160.06 and revisions, and program-specific SOPs.
• Participate in program planning and development, advise the supervisor about changing Veteran care needs, and identify needs for SOP or policy changes.
• Provide supervision to students, interns, or unlicensed Social Workers as requested.

Benefits

• 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, comprising 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 experience, 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 of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and families meeting the stated income and eligibility criteria.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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