Social Worker MH RRTP

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides independent clinical social work services to Veterans participating in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team. The role includes assessing mental health, medical, functional, environmental, financial, housing, family, and other psychosocial needs, and developing, implementing, and evaluating individualized treatment plans with Veterans, families, and team members.

The Social Worker provides individual, group, family, and couples counseling using evidence-based approaches; case management and care coordination from admission through discharge; crisis intervention and safety assessments; and admission, transition, discharge, and aftercare planning. The position also educates and consults with Veterans and families about benefits, community resources, specialty programs, advance directives, and support services; makes referrals; advocates for Veterans; and advises treatment teams and facility staff on psychosocial needs, treatment barriers, health care planning, and discharge concerns.

The role includes timely clinical documentation and reporting, participation in program planning and quality improvement, staff education, professional development, and special assignments. Clinical supervision of unlicensed social workers may be included when qualified. This is an onsite position with a Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The full performance level is GS-11. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or a qualifying doctoral degree for the applicable experience substitution.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in health care or another social work-related setting, unless qualifying doctoral education substitutes for the experience requirement.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with individuals from varied socioeconomic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology sufficient to formulate treatment plans.
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Ability to consult with new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about patients’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application and onboarding steps, provide acceptable identification, and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing mental health and substance use disorder services.
• Experience delivering evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for PTSD, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE).
• Experience facilitating trauma-focused group and individual therapy.
• Ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to work with individuals with complex psychosocial needs.
• Experience with crisis management, care coordination, and discharge planning for individuals with complex behavioral health needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent clinical social work services to Veterans in the MH RRTP as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments covering mental health, medical, functional, environmental, financial, housing, family, and other psychosocial needs.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized treatment plans with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Provide individual, group, family, and couples counseling using evidence-based and empirically supported approaches.
• Provide case management and care coordination from admission through discharge to support continuity of care.
• Address complex psychosocial problems; provide crisis intervention and safety assessment; and coordinate emergency or specialized services when needed.
• Coordinate admission, transition, and discharge planning with Veterans, families, treatment team members, and community providers.
• Establish aftercare arrangements consistent with Veterans’ treatment goals, preferences, risk factors, and level of independence.
• Educate and consult with Veterans and families regarding VA benefits, community resources, specialty programs, advance directives, and supportive services.
• Link and refer Veterans to VA medical center programs, specialty mental health services, VA Regional Offices, government agencies, and community-based organizations.
• Advocate for Veterans and families to promote comprehensive, equitable, culturally responsive, and timely service delivery.
• Consult with interdisciplinary team members and facility staff regarding psychosocial needs, treatment barriers, health care planning, and discharge concerns.
• Complete timely clinical documentation, medical record entries, workload and statistical reports, and other accountability activities.
• Participate in program planning, quality improvement, staff education, professional development, and special assignments.
• Provide clinical supervision to unlicensed social workers when qualified.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits eligibility depends on the type of position.

What This Job Offers

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