Social Worker-Community Living Center (CLC)

Veterans Health Administration • Lyons, NJ

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent provides specialized clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with complex psychiatric, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial needs. This position is located at the Lyons, NJ VA Medical Center. The GS-09 Community Living Center (CLC) Social Worker, which includes Social Work on General Long-Term Care, Subacute Rehab, Dementia, and Geriatric Psych units, is a licensed social worker practicing under close clinical supervision within Social Work Service, assigned to the Extended Care service line. The incumbent provides clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with psychiatric, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial needs, working under the regular guidance and review of a senior social worker or supervisor. The Social Worker assists with biopsychosocial assessment, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, behavioral management strategies, and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, neurocognitive decline, and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional loss, with supervisory oversight commensurate with case complexity. The Social Worker supports recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC, including long-term care, memory care, and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicable, under the direction of the assigned supervisor. The GS-11 Community Living Center (CLC) Social Worker, which includes Social Work on General Long-Term Care, Subacute Rehab, Dementia, and Geriatric Psych units, is a licensed, independent practitioner within Social Work Service, assigned to the Extended Care service line. The incumbent provides specialized clinical social work services to older adult Veterans with complex psychiatric, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial needs. The Social Worker delivers comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, behavioral management strategies, and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, neurocognitive decline, and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional loss. The Social Worker promotes recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC, including long-term care, memory care, and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicable. Performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• For grades below or at the full performance level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master's level within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker.
• Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
• A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Nice To Haves

• Geriatric and medical experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists with biopsychosocial assessment, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, behavioral management strategies, and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, neurocognitive decline, and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional loss, with supervisory oversight commensurate with case complexity.
• Supports recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC, including long-term care, memory care, and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicable, under the direction of the assigned supervisor.
• Delivers comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, behavioral management strategies, and interdisciplinary care coordination for Veterans with dementia, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, neurocognitive decline, and psychiatric conditions complicated by chronic illness or functional loss.
• Promotes recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and Veteran-centered care across the General CLC and the Geriatric Psychiatric CLC, including long-term care, memory care, and geriatric psychiatry settings as applicable.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

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