Senior Social Worker (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program)

Veterans Health Administration • Prescott, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The BHIP Open Access Social Worker provides timely, rapid-access mental health evaluations and brief interventions for Veterans with acute or urgent behavioral health needs. Working with advanced-practice independence, the Senior Social Worker manages same-day access flow and determines the clinically appropriate level of care, including BHIP, Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI), Substance Use Disorder specialty care, or other mental health and behavioral health programs. The role includes focused, evidence-based assessments of presenting concerns, risk, functional status, and treatment needs, in close collaboration with RN triage and BHIP teams.

Senior Social Workers practice independently at an advanced level and may carry substantial responsibility for clinical program development, effectiveness, and service-pattern changes. They collaborate with treatment teams to provide comprehensive care to Veterans, promote equitable access to services and benefits, and ensure high-quality care. The role may also include leadership, staff development, training, consultation, committee participation, and developing policies or practice guidelines.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, with tour duty hours ranging from 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not virtual, and telework is not available. The work is primarily sedentary in an office-like environment, with possible travel to conferences, site visits, and meetings. Occasional outdoor work in all weather and exposure to moderate risks in storage areas or hazardous waste sites may occur.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• 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 Senior Social Worker, GS-12 grade: at least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, in a specialized social work practice area.
• 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.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial and/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 social work practice and service effectiveness and use outcome evaluations to improve services and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and role-model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Ability to meet federal pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, onboarding, and required identification documentation.
• Participation in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Willingness to serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty, with a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Highly qualified candidates may be considered for a recruitment incentive.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, rapid-access mental health evaluations and brief interventions for Veterans presenting with acute or urgent behavioral health needs.
• Manage same-day access flow and determine the most clinically appropriate level of care, including BHIP, PCMHI, SUD specialty care, or other mental health and behavioral health programs.
• Conduct focused, evidence-based assessments of presenting concerns, risk, functional status, and treatment needs.
• Collaborate with RN triage and BHIP teams and other treatment-team members to provide comprehensive health care services.
• Use specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management, as appropriate to the specialty area.
• Incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Develop and implement methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff.
• Contribute to clinical program development and accountability for program effectiveness and service-pattern modification, where assigned.
• Participate in committees, work groups, and task forces at facility, VISN, national, or community levels as appropriate.
• Develop policies, procedures, or practice guidelines related to the service delivery area.
• Promote equitable access to care, services, and benefits and help ensure care is of the highest quality.
• Travel for conferences, facility site visits, and face-to-face meetings regarding projects or assignments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 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 of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income, child eligibility, and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Prior federal or military service may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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