Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Garland, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides care coordination and psychosocial services to Veterans served by the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), working with patients and families experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems. The role uses social work clinical skills within the bounds of the employee’s privileges. The vacancy may be filled at GS-09 (developmental) or GS-11 (full performance), with the full performance level at GS-11.

At GS-09, the social worker performs core functions under close supervisory guidance. Duties include assessing psychosocial functioning and needs, supporting Veterans’ use of treatment and independence, helping Veterans and significant others evaluate problems and identify plans and resources, and consulting with treatment teams and staff about psychosocial needs.

At GS-11, the social worker independently assesses and treats psychosocial problems affecting Veterans and their families or significant others. The role establishes effective relationships in primary care, addresses complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial concerns, and works with Veterans over multiple visits as appropriate. The social worker uses knowledge of PACT and team roles, medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc only; the position is not virtual. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s level for GS-11 and above. At GS-09, the licensure or certification requirement may be waived while state prerequisites are completed, subject to VA requirements.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in health care or another social work-related setting, unless a qualifying doctoral degree in social work substitutes for that experience.
• Ability to counsel and work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs, formulate and implement treatment plans, and identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Ability to use supportive, problem-solving, and crisis-intervention techniques with individuals, families, and groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community-agency representatives.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses or injuries, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, knowledge of community resources and the ability to make referrals and coordinate services.
• For GS-11, skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for people from diverse backgrounds.
• For GS-11, skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11, ability to provide consultation to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about psychosocial needs and their effects on health care and treatment compliance.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of the online onboarding process and application requirements.
• Must meet the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as specified by the agency.
• Must satisfy the stated identification requirements for pre-employment processing.

Nice To Haves

• Medical inpatient and outpatient social work experience.
• Two years of experience providing case management services.
• Experience coordinating community-based services, including information, education, and referrals.
• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience addressing psychosocial issues related to aging, illness, disability, coping, and grief.

Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments of Veterans and/or their families to determine functioning and needs.
• Use assessment findings to facilitate Veterans’ use of treatment and attainment of the highest practicable level of independence.
• Help Veterans and significant others address problems, consider alternatives, and develop plans for using resources to resolve problems.
• Provide consultation to treatment team and staff members regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families.
• Assess and treat psychosocial problems that cause distress, affect health conditions, or create barriers to care.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families.
• Work with Veterans and families facing complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems.
• Use knowledge of the PACT approach and the roles of health and allied health team members.
• At the GS-09 level, provide psychosocial services under supervision, including social work case management, advocacy, referrals, and maintaining a network of internal and external resources.
• At the GS-09 level, identify behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and provide education on advance directives and advance care planning.
• At the GS-11 level, independently assess psychosocial needs, risks, and strengths; provide counseling and crisis interventions; manage cases and coordinate care; and develop and implement treatment plans.
• At the GS-11 level, advocate for Veterans, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, connect Veterans to resources, and provide consultation, education, and leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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