Social Worker (OPMH)

Veterans Health Administration • Carbondale, IL

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker (OPMH) provides psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, consultation, case management, and discharge-planning services to Veterans and their families. The role works independently with people experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems, and collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams to support care planning and treatment adherence. Direct Veteran care documentation must account for at least 80% of the time allotted to direct care in the clinician’s weekly profile. Notes and encounters, required Talent Management System trainings, and Ongoing Professional Practice Examination assessments for other providers must be completed by their assigned deadlines.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The incumbent may also be responsible for early-morning, evening, or weekend duty and participation in an on-call rotation covering Veteran care needs during weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and application requirements. The program may provide up to $200,000 in student-loan reimbursement, with the award and eligibility period determined after review of the application. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Applicants must meet VA social-work education and licensure requirements. The vacancy may be filled at GS-9 or GS-11, with GS-11 identified as the full-performance level. Employment includes a one- or two-year trial period. Physical demands are described as typical for the occupation and generally do not require a pre-placement examination.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for this requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level, subject to applicable VA provisions.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-9, demonstrate ability to counsel Veterans and family members from diverse backgrounds; assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; use treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives; and demonstrate fundamental knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, have at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and state licensure or certification for independent practice; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional clinical social-work experience.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independently conduct psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for diverse individuals; use medical and mental-health knowledge to formulate treatment plans; independently implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete the required background/security investigation, online onboarding, identification, application documentation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Nice To Haves

• Clinically licensed therapist with at least two years of experience and current competency using evidence-based practice with adult patients in a mental-health setting.
• Completed training in at least one evidence-based treatment intervention for mental-health diagnoses.

Responsibilities

• Complete thorough psychosocial assessments and document pertinent functioning information to support diagnoses and treatment-related conclusions.
• Provide DSM diagnoses to determine Veterans’ and families’ psychosocial functioning and needs.
• Provide emergency and crisis interventions to stabilize Veterans.
• Provide individual, group, and/or family psychotherapy when clinically appropriate and therapeutically beneficial.
• Consult with treatment-team members and staff about psychosocial needs and how psychosocial problems affect health-care planning, treatment compliance, and discharge planning.
• Document direct Veteran care for at least 80% of the direct-care time allotted in the clinician’s weekly profile.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.
• Work independently with Veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Facilitate timely discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment-team members.
• Educate and consult with Veterans and families about community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives.
• Maintain knowledge of Veteran benefits, services, community resources, and referral processes for community and government programs or agencies.
• Provide case-management services to Veterans and their families across the continuum of care.
• Supervise mental-health or human-service students, other appropriate students, or less-experienced staff as appropriate.
• Complete notes and encounters within 24 hours, assigned or required TMS trainings, and OPPE assessments for other providers by assigned due dates.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), potentially providing up to $200,000 in student-loan reimbursement for eligible participants.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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