Social Worker (Readjustment Counselor)

Veterans Health Administration • Montgomery, AL

21h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. The program approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Readjustment Counselors are multi-disciplinary and can be filled by Social Workers, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists. This announcement is for a Social Worker. The incumbent will provide Vet Center services to eligible individuals experiencing military-related psychological and psychosocial problems. They must possess the knowledge and experience to independently implement psychotherapeutic modalities for individuals, families, and groups to enhance the readjustment of Veterans, active duty Service members, and their families.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.
• Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• For GS-9: None beyond the basic requirements.
• For GS-11: Completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
• For GS-11: A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-9: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach; Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate/implement a treatment plan; Ability to implement treatment modalities; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-11: Knowledge of community resources and referral processes; Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions; Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures; Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities; Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.

Nice To Haves

• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Responsibilities

• Intake Screening and Assessment: Work directly with eligible individuals to establish a therapeutic relationship and complete all required readjustment counseling intake procedures, including an assessment of risk for self-harm, military history, and military-related psychosocial stressors.
• Readjustment Counseling Goal Setting and Service Planning: Develop and periodically update an individualized readjustment counseling service plan based on the psychosocial assessment, reflecting therapeutic and psychosocial interventions, achievable goals, and measurable outcomes.
• Direct Readjustment Counseling Service Provision: Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential psychosocial assessment and direct service delivery to eligible Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnostic inferences within the clinical scope of practice.
• Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention: Conduct timely assessment of Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety planning as appropriate.
• Care Coordination: Link Veterans with other community services, resources, and opportunities to maximize their independence, health, and well-being.
• Coordinating Readjustment Counseling and Outreach: Maintain active coordination with Vet Center outreach workers to ensure seamless referral to Vet Center services for individuals engaged at outreach events who may require follow-up readjustment counseling.
• Team Cohesion and Coordination: Actively participate in Vet Center staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development through conjoint planning, problem-solving, discussion of problematic cases, coaching and mentoring new staff, and addressing staff self-care issues, under the supervision of the Vet Center Director.
• Documentation/Administrative Responsibilities/Consultation: Document all clinical interactions with eligible individuals and episodes of care coordination as required by RCS policy.
• Responsiveness to Other Duties as Assigned: Proactively address all other duties as assigned and directed by the Vet Center Director.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - student loan payment reimbursement program (up to $200,000 over one to five years).
• Federal employee benefits package including comprehensive benefits designed to make a federal career rewarding.
• Annual leave accrual based on years of federal service, with potential credit for prior work or military service experience.

What This Job Offers

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