Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

Veterans Health Administration • Colorado Springs, CO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves as a therapist on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team, practicing in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. The role includes assessing veterans’ psychosocial needs and collaborating with veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members to develop treatment plans and achievable goals. The social worker provides evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy for adults experiencing mental and emotional disorders, severe mental illness, chronic or disabling illness, and other significant health-related challenges. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms, increase understanding, and support recovery and overall well-being.

The position also involves discharge planning, crisis assessment and management, advocacy, coordination with service providers, and education about VA and community resources, entitlements, and advance directives. The social worker reviews provider progress notes, helps veterans and families consider available options, participates in mental health social work peer review, and completes clinical documentation according to facility timelines. Work is primarily sedentary, with some sitting, standing, walking, and carrying light items. The work can involve emotional stress when supporting veterans at high risk for suicide and their families.

The position requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice at the master's level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception. The full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-9 through GS-13. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• 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 substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. A limited exception may apply at the GS-9 level while completing state prerequisites; GS-11 and above require licensure or certification.
• For GS-11 appointment, 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 required year of professional social work experience.
• For GS-9, demonstrate counseling skills; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques; ability to establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives; and fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions with people from diverse backgrounds; knowledge of diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology sufficient to formulate treatment plans; skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff about patients’ psychosocial needs and their impact on health care and treatment compliance.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete required online onboarding and application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Physical demands are generally minor; the work may involve sitting, standing, walking, prolonged standing, moderate walking, manual dexterity, and carrying light items.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with adults in a mental health setting.
• Experience providing psychotherapy or therapy in an outpatient mental health setting.

Responsibilities

• Practice according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Develop psychosocial assessments in collaboration with veterans, family members or significant others, and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Assess veterans’ psychosocial functioning, needs, strengths, limitations, coping skills, and support needs.
• Collaborate with veterans, families, and BHIP clinical staff to develop treatment plans and achievable treatment goals.
• Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapeutic treatment using evidence-based psychological methods.
• Facilitate discharge planning with veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure timely execution of appropriate plans.
• Reassess veterans’ needs in collaboration with other service providers.
• Advocate for veterans and families when doing so serves their best interests.
• Conduct rapid assessments when needed and develop crisis management plans, including referral or admission to mental health inpatient programs when appropriate.
• Use resource directories and other available resources to address crisis needs.
• Educate veterans and families about VA and community resources, entitlements, and advance directives or living wills; refer health education needs to appropriate interdisciplinary team members.
• Review other providers’ progress notes to determine veterans’ strengths and limitations.
• Explain available options to veterans, families, and the team, and collaborate with veterans and families on preferred options.
• Participate in Mental Health Social Work peer review.
• Complete clinical documentation according to facility timelines.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential student loan reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential child care subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and eligible children, subject to income and program limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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: Mid Level