Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The New Mexico VA Healthcare Network is recruiting a Senior Social Worker Veterans Justice Programs (VJP) Specialist. As part of the Veterans Justice Programs team, the incumbent provides psychosocial services primarily to Veterans experiencing or at risk of criminal justice involvement. The position provides a wide range of in-person case management services to Veterans living in rural New Mexico and works with community partners and criminal justice systems.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-12. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station authorization are not offered.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the MSW requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; senior social workers must hold advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure in a specialized area of social work practice, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causes into 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 in the specialty area and use outcome evaluations to improve treatment 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, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Valid driver's license.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, complete the online onboarding process, and meet application and identification requirements.
• Must participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness and criminal justice involvement.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community partners.
• 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

• Educate and inform community partners in law enforcement, court systems, incarcerating facilities, and other criminal justice system agencies.
• Serve on Treatment Court Teams, provide a clinical perspective, and guide treatment plans for Veteran participants.
• Develop awareness of civil legal service providers and resources and refer Veterans seeking support for non-criminal legal needs, such as divorce, child custody, and bankruptcy.
• Independently conduct interviews and assessments for program enrollment and to help develop treatment plans.
• Visit Veterans in incarcerating facilities in person to conduct initial needs assessments and develop appropriate treatment plans.
• Provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Develop and implement methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment services, and design system changes.
• Expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific benefits eligibility depends on position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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