Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Cumberland, MD

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker works at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), independently providing advanced clinical psychosocial and case-management services to eligible Veterans and their family members. The position addresses complex biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs and requires advanced clinical judgment, oversight, and creative problem-solving. The social worker coordinates care with on-site psychiatry and medical staff, Martinsburg VAMC departments, interdisciplinary teams, and community providers.

The role includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual, group, and family psychotherapy, advanced case management, and specialized interventions for Veterans with complex medical and mental health conditions. The Senior Social Worker also contributes to program development, consultation, staff and student training, clinical supervision, and the development of practice standards and service improvements. The position is onsite; telework and virtual work are not available. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requirements

• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, including experience in a specialized area of social work practice.
• At least one year of qualifying experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• A 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 grade, state licensure or certification at the advanced-practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering exception.
• 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 account for complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of methods for measuring 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 to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Successful completion of required background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• For males born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.
• Must serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or 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 advanced clinical psychosocial treatment and case management for Veterans and their family members with complex needs.
• Develop and support program operations, recruit Veteran patients, network with community resources, and coordinate care with medical and psychiatric staff, VA departments, and community facilities.
• Coordinate screening and case management for programs including PTSD, substance abuse, community nursing home, and homemaker aide services; provide ongoing treatment and documentation in accordance with VA guidelines and facility policy.
• Educate Veterans about advance health care planning, assist with advance directives, and facilitate psychoeducational and support groups for Veterans and families.
• Consult with and guide colleagues, model effective social work practices, orient and teach less experienced social workers, and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification.
• Train social work interns, residents, and staff from other disciplines on psychosocial and psychiatric issues that may affect Veteran care.
• Complete complex referrals and consults from interdisciplinary teams and social workers, using advanced practice expertise.
• Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced case-management interventions for Veterans with conditions including polytrauma, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, PTSD, addictions, and other serious disorders.
• Consult with referral sources and develop, maintain, and educate others on professional standards of practice.
• Interview Veterans and conduct psychosocial assessments to identify treatment needs, presenting problems, DSM diagnoses, risk factors, acuity, and service needs.
• Interpret and explain VA treatment and benefit programs.
• Develop timely treatment plans with Veterans that include measurable, time-limited goals and evidence-based therapy; review and reassess plans as appropriate.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners, including OIF/OEF case managers, Care in the Community, substance abuse staff, psychiatry, the Homeless Program, physicians, and Vet Centers.
• Make independent treatment recommendations to interdisciplinary teams based on advanced practice skills, professional judgment, and expertise.
• Provide leadership, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff.

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 a child's birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and program limits.
• 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 can be carried into retirement.
• Potential annual-leave accrual credit for prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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