Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Des Moines, IA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides comprehensive social work services to Veterans and their families, with a focus on substance use disorder treatment. The position conducts psychosocial and substance use disorder intake assessments, participates in treatment planning and discharge planning, and provides individual, family, and group counseling. The Social Worker also offers case management, community-resource and VA-benefit education, consultation to colleagues and students, and support to patients and significant others coping with disability, terminal illness, loss, and grief. Therapy interventions and activities are documented in the patient's clinical record using CPRS, and the position helps coordinate timely and appropriate patient transitions within the VA system and with external partners.

The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one evening per week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are unavailable. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to its eligibility rules and application requirements; approved awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.

The position may be filled at the GS-9 or GS-11 level. Applicants must meet the applicable education, licensure, experience, and knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements. Basic education requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school. GS-9 applicants need no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-11 applicants generally need one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 and independent-level state licensure or certification, or may substitute a qualifying doctoral degree in social work for the experience requirement. The position is in the Excepted Service and requires U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and applicable pre-employment and onboarding requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• 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 cannot replace this basic master's degree requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception for completing state prerequisites.
• For GS-9, no experience beyond the basic requirements; an unlicensed or uncertified GS-9 appointee must obtain independent master's-level licensure or certification within three years of appointment.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional clinical social work experience.
• Demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach to interventions and counseling for Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Demonstrate ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans.
• Demonstrate ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives.
• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independent psychosocial assessment and treatment skills; ability to formulate treatment plans using medical and mental health knowledge; ability to independently implement treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and staff.
• Meet background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, application-document, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.
• Submit a transcript with the application; foreign education used to qualify requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to identify the needs of Veterans and family members.
• Conduct intake substance use disorder assessments to determine appropriate VA program needs.
• Participate in treatment planning with other disciplines.
• Participate in transition and discharge planning and ensure plans are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling, with services focused on substance use disorder treatment.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Act as a consultant to other team and staff members.
• Provide consultation and education to students of all disciplines on clinical practice and VA policy and procedures.
• Provide case management to Veterans and families as needed throughout the continuum of care.
• Provide social services within accepted professional standards, including case work, counseling, discharge planning, and case management.
• Assist patients and significant others in coping with loss and grief related to disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Document therapy interventions and activities in patients’ clinical records using CPRS.
• Ensure appropriate patient transfers within the VA system and with external agents.
• Participate in evening services one night per week to accommodate patient care needs.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position status and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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