Senior Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Pensacola, FL

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker independently practices social work at an advanced level in a major specialty treatment program or program area of comparable scope and complexity. The role has administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for program effectiveness and modifying service patterns. The Social Worker serves Veterans and their families through screening, psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, counseling or psychotherapy, case management, and aftercare follow-up. Work combines office-based duties with community-based social work and may involve interaction with individuals in crisis and exposure to potentially dangerous situations.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on facility needs. Telework may be available as determined by agency policy; this is not a virtual position. Community locations vary according to where Veterans live or receive services. Veterans may be transported in a government vehicle, and occasional air and car travel is required.

The position requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification for independent practice at the master's level. Senior-level qualification requires 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. Senior Social Workers must have advanced-practice licensure or certification and be able to provide supervision for licensure. The full performance level is GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Master's degree in Social Work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; at the senior level, advanced-practice licensure or certification is required, with the stated California and grandfathering exceptions.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure in a specialized social work practice area, including one year equivalent to GS-11.
• Demonstrated advanced practice skills and judgment and expertise in a specialized area of social work.
• 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 social work practice and service effectiveness, using outcomes to improve services and design system changes.
• Ability to consult with 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 area.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Must be able to independently operate a government vehicle and provide a clean driving record report during pre-employment.
• Current, unrestricted driver's license and driving ability.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application steps, including an online assessment and onboarding; Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Fully licensed.
• Five years of mental health experience.
• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Responsibilities

• Independently perform case-finding and outreach to identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs.
• Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and diagnose Veterans using the current DSM or another recognized diagnostic manual.
• Implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide appropriate intervention and case-management services.
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans and/or their families and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Select and deliver appropriate psychosocial interventions using professional judgment.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and liaison with community agencies.
• Coordinate community-based services, including information and referrals to or from VA programs, government programs, and community agencies.
• Develop clinical programs and remain accountable for their effectiveness and modification of service patterns.
• Carry out screening, assessment, treatment planning, case management, and aftercare follow-up for Veterans.
• Provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students, model effective social work practice, and contribute to policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service area.
• Use outcome evaluations to assess and improve social work services and help design system changes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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