Senior Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker works in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Clinic and provides outpatient psychotherapy services to Veterans, including individual and group therapy using evidence-based practices. The role includes diagnostic and evaluation services, particularly psychological evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment, and psychological interventions within the employee’s training and expertise. Treatment effectiveness and Veteran response are documented using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.

The incumbent develops, implements, and documents treatment plans for an assigned caseload, completes clinical reminders promptly, and carries out related administrative work such as scheduling, responding to Veteran calls and secure messages, writing reports, and attending meetings. The employee is expected to pursue ongoing professional training and may provide clinical coverage for absent staff as needed. The role also includes compliance with performance measures, screening requirements, electronic medical record documentation, and patient checkout procedures.

The position provides primary clinical supervision for unlicensed staff and/or students, may provide backup supervision or group supervision for trainees, and provides current, evidence-informed education to trainees, clinicians, and facility staff. Educational activities may include in-service and grand-round presentations. The employee attends meetings related to training and other duties as assigned.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The position is permanent; recruitment, relocation, and permanent change-of-station incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• 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 GS-12 Senior Social Worker 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, with applicable stated exceptions; 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 and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, and onboarding requirements; comply with seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, as applicable.
• Submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking EDRP participation, and meet individual eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
• Prior work or military service experience may be considered for annual leave accrual credit, subject to approval.

Responsibilities

• Provide outpatient individual and group psychotherapy to Veterans using evidence-based practices.
• Conduct diagnostic and evaluation services, including evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment.
• Provide psychological interventions consistent with training, expertise, and clinical privileges.
• Document treatment effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.
• Develop, implement, and document psychotherapeutic treatment plans for an assigned caseload, including timely completion of clinical reminders.
• Schedule Veterans; return calls and secure messages; write reports; and attend organizational meetings.
• Complete ongoing professional training through workshops, intra-VA assignments, and distance learning.
• Provide clinical coverage for absent staff when deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Comply with performance measures, health care screening requirements, clinical reminders, and electronic medical record documentation and checkout procedures.
• Attend administrative and informational meetings held by Behavioral Health Service Line and facility leadership.
• Provide primary clinical supervision for unlicensed staff and/or students, and backup or group supervision as directed.
• Provide current, evidence-informed education to trainees, clinicians, and facility staff, including in-service or grand-round presentations.
• Attend meetings pertinent to training as directed and perform other collateral duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment.
• Child care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and program limits.
• 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 programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit for prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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