Senior Social Worker- EDRP Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • Dallas, TX

17h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), providing specialized clinical services to Veterans with serious mental illness and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. The position includes comprehensive psychosocial assessment, individualized treatment planning, evidence-based psychotherapy, intensive case management, crisis response, and coordination of care with interdisciplinary teams and community agencies. The role supports Veterans’ recovery, community integration, continuity of care, wellness, independent living skills, and meaningful community participation.

The Senior Social Worker maintains clinical documentation, completes screenings and clinical reminders, monitors treatment outcomes, and contributes to program development, quality improvement, and accreditation compliance. As a subject matter expert in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services, the incumbent consults with and trains interdisciplinary staff and social work trainees, and provides mentorship and role modeling.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc only; this is not a virtual position. The work is primarily sedentary, though it may involve movement among work areas and walking or standing for meetings or conferences, as well as lifting or carrying light items weighing less than 15 pounds. The position requires a one- or two-year trial period. It is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree may not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by an applicable grandfathering provision; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• 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.
• 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 developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work 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 under VA policy.
• Current state-issued driver's license.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, complete onboarding requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must meet the announcement's application and documentation requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Case management experience.
• Experience working with Veterans living with serious mental illness.
• Mental health crisis intervention experience.
• Experience with assessments and evaluations.
• Experience developing treatment plans.
• Experience providing supportive and evidence-based psychotherapy.
• Certification or post-master's training in a specialty area from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Provide evidence-based individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
• Manage an assigned caseload and provide intensive case management to support recovery, community integration, and continuity of care.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary treatment teams, VA programs, and community agencies to connect Veterans with mental health, substance use, housing, and supportive services.
• Provide crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, safety planning, and follow-up care for high-risk Veterans in accordance with VA policies and procedures.
• Facilitate psychoeducational and recovery-oriented groups and promote wellness and rehabilitation.
• Help Veterans develop coping skills, independent living skills, and meaningful community participation.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation, complete required screenings and clinical reminders, and monitor treatment outcomes.
• Provide consultation, training, and mentorship to interdisciplinary staff and social work trainees in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services.
• Participate in program development, quality improvement initiatives, accreditation compliance activities, and other assignments supporting program goals and Veteran-centered care.
• Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff.
• Participate in committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, national, or community level as appropriate.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval, with awards of up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

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