Social Worker-PTSD/RRTP

Veterans Health Administration • Battle Creek, MI

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves on a multidisciplinary team located primarily in the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PTSD-RRTP) at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The position is in Psychology service and provides assessment, treatment, case management, and coordination of care for Veterans and their families.

The incumbent participates in admission and screening by interviewing patients and families and collecting intake information to establish treatment for psychiatric disorders. The Social Worker conducts individual, group, and family counseling and serves as a primary therapist for an assigned PTSD-RRTP caseload, preparing and implementing treatment plans. Using a recovery-model approach, the Social Worker helps patients adjust to their living situations, identify daily-living skill deficits, access skill-building education, and address psychosocial conflicts or trauma. The role also supports communication between patients and families, addresses problem behaviors when needed, and coordinates with public and private providers and agencies to support continuity of care and appropriate referrals as levels of care change.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be available at the supervisor’s discretion. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 or GS-11. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval; awards may be up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years. Federal benefits described include paid parental leave after 12 months, a childcare subsidy for eligible employees and children, a federal pension and 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions, and federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance.

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 the master’s degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level is required at GS-11 and above; an exception may apply at GS-9 while completing state prerequisites.
• Maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification once licensed or certified.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• 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 experience requirement.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the grade sought, including counseling, psychosocial assessment and treatment planning, treatment modalities, communication and relationship-building, medical and mental-health knowledge, community referrals and service coordination, and consultation skills as applicable to GS-9 or GS-11.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Register for Selective Service if a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation, onboarding, required application documentation, and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and obtained from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Participate in patient admission and screening by interviewing patients and families and collecting intake data to establish treatment for psychiatric disorders.
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling.
• Serve as primary therapist for an assigned caseload of PTSD-RRTP patients and prepare and implement treatment plans.
• Help patients adjust to their living situations and identify deficits in activities of daily living.
• Provide or arrange skill-building educational activities.
• Help patients address psychosocial conflicts or trauma and pursue resolution or psychological stability using a recovery-model approach.
• Use supportive and facilitative techniques to help patients and families communicate and, when necessary, address problem behaviors.
• Act as a resource and liaison to public and private providers and agencies to support continuity of care and appropriate referrals as levels of care change.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): eligible participants may receive up to $200,000 in student loan repayment, subject to program approval and eligibility requirements.
• Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits; up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and a stated monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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