Social Worker (Mental Health Intensive Case Management) - EDRP Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • Lubbock, TX

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves in the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) Program, supporting Veterans and their families who experience a range of medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial challenges. The role involves establishing therapeutic relationships, assessing psychosocial needs, participating in interdisciplinary treatment, coordinating services, and supporting treatment and rehabilitation. Work is performed with supervision at the GS-9 level; GS-11 is the full-performance level. The position may be filled at GS-9 through GS-11.

The Social Worker must have working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology. The role also includes administrative and professional responsibilities, such as supporting VA policies and procedures, participating in committees as assigned, communicating issues to a supervisor, maintaining professional knowledge through continuing education, and using software and VHA computer systems.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. A current, unrestricted state-issued driver's license and ability to operate a motor vehicle are required. A pre-employment examination will assess the ability to safely operate a government vehicle.

The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program and application requirements. Potential EDRP awards are up to $200,000, with eligibility periods of one to five years; the program office determines approval, award, and eligibility period after reviewing an application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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 this master's degree requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level; an exception may apply at GS-9 while state licensure or certification prerequisites are being completed. GS-11 requires independent-practice licensure or certification unless qualifying through the stated doctoral-degree substitution for experience.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, unless a doctoral degree in social work qualifies as a substitute for the experience requirement.
• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds using counseling skills.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans identifying problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• 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, illnesses and 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 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 regarding patients' psychosocial needs and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Current, unrestricted, valid state-issued driver's license and ability to operate a motor vehicle; a pre-employment examination is required to validate safe vehicle operation.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination; a full physical is not required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Satisfy background/security investigation and onboarding requirements, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as determined for the appointment.
• Meet the stated physical standards for safe vehicle operation: distant vision of 20/40 in one eye with or without correction, 70-degree field of vision, ability to distinguish red, green, and amber, whispered voice at five feet or average hearing loss no greater than 40 dB at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) or similar intensive, community-based mental health models.
• Crisis intervention and high-intensity case management experience with Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) and high use of acute services.
• Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment expertise.
• Experience in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery services, including recovery-oriented practices and community integration strategies.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the MHICM Program and their families.
• Work with Veterans and families experiencing diverse medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Complete psychosocial assessments to determine the functioning and needs of Veterans and their families, under supervision where specified.
• Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with Veterans and family members.
• Collaborate with and provide consultation to referring interdisciplinary treatment teams, with supervision, to promote continuity of care, appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning.
• Serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to support delivery of services.
• Implement treatment modalities, provide social skills training and patient education, and provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families, under supervision where specified.
• Support the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA, the relevant VISN, and the facility.
• Serve on facility committees, work groups, and task forces as assigned by the supervisor and Chief of Mental Health Service.
• Keep the supervisor informed of problems and recommended solutions in the area of responsibility.
• Pursue professional growth through continuing education and maintain continuing education appropriate to the assignment.
• Use software applications for drafting documents and data management, as well as other VHA computer systems.
• Maintain productivity and quality consistent with assignment complexity and applicable Social Work, Joint Commission, CARF, and facility standards.
• Operate a motor vehicle as required for the position.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential award of up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be determined based on existing pay, qualifications, or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for qualifying full-time employees with total family income below $144,000: up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• 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