Social Worker-Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker works within the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), providing treatment coordination and therapeutic interventions to Resident Veterans experiencing complex mental health, addiction, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental challenges. The role aims to maximize rehabilitation and treatment potential and support Veterans in achieving abstinence and emotional, economic, and housing stability before returning to their communities.

The incumbent independently uses a recovery-oriented model, carries a caseload, completes assessments, and develops treatment plans and goals collaboratively with Veterans. The Social Worker coordinates care from admission through discharge, works closely with the treatment team, and helps Veterans reconnect with communities and services of their choice. Work includes individual, group, and family interventions, crisis response, community referrals, and consultation with staff.

The position is full-time and onsite; telework and virtual work are not available. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be made at GS-09 through GS-11.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree does not substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level. At GS-11 and above, licensure or certification is required; a limited exception may apply at GS-09 while state prerequisites are being completed.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in health care or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice-level state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Ability to use a Veteran-centered approach when providing interventions and counseling to Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• 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 treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, including supportive, problem-solving, and crisis-intervention techniques.
• 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 ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• For GS-11, skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from varied socioeconomic, educational, and other 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 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.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must meet background and security investigation requirements, complete online onboarding and required application documentation, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with substance use disorder is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Independently implement the recovery model of treatment and carry a caseload of Residential Veterans.
• Use initial assessments to develop treatment plans and mutually establish goals with Veterans, guiding the plan of care toward those goals.
• Coordinate treatment and discharge planning from admission through discharge in collaboration with the treatment team, helping Veterans re-engage with their chosen communities.
• Hold daily group treatment coordination meetings for the assigned caseload and meet individually with assigned Veterans at least once every other week.
• Provide at least five hours of group treatment per week, with additional individual sessions as needed and recommended by the treatment team.
• Coordinate community-based services and referrals to VA programs, other government programs, and community agencies.
• Independently identify high-risk patients and provide crisis intervention that addresses underlying causes as well as presenting concerns.
• Coordinate family conferences and serve as a liaison to family members.
• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families; provide individual, group, and family counseling and therapy.
• Provide consultation to other staff about Veterans' psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans.
• Evaluate professional practice through peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means.
• Facilitate referrals based on Veterans' needs and eligibility, including referrals related to Veterans' benefits and services.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child-eligibility, and monthly maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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