Social Worker (HUD-VASH)

Veterans Health Administration • Kingman, AZ

4d

About The Position

Provides case-management-based social work services to Veterans in the HUD-VASH program and serves as a liaison with local Public Housing Authorities. Coordinates care by facilitating collaboration among VA medical center providers, community health and mental health services, and agencies serving homeless populations.

The Social Worker serves on a multidisciplinary treatment team and provides direct care and treatment as indicated. The role includes using evidence-based practices and treatment modalities such as motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, individual case work, group psychotherapy, and group psychoeducation. The Social Worker provides educational, facilitative, and therapeutic leadership in individual and group outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use treatment; completes intake and assessments; and develops treatment plans addressing substance use disorders, other DSM-5 disorders, and social and medical needs. Some treatment planning duties are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed independent practitioner.

The position provides emergency care to Veterans receiving outpatient substance use treatment, including referrals for emergency primary care, psychiatric medication evaluations, or non-medical detoxification. The Social Worker participates in staff meetings and program planning and development, and recommends policy and procedure changes as appropriate. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. The full-performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 to 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.
• Be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level, subject to the stated GS-09 exception for candidates completing state prerequisites.
• For GS-11 appointment, have at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-09 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice-level state licensure or certification; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Demonstrate ability to work with Veterans and family members from varied backgrounds using counseling skills.
• Demonstrate ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans.
• Demonstrate ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Have fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and ability to make referrals and coordinate services.
• For GS-11, demonstrate skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from diverse backgrounds.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to formulate treatment plans.
• For GS-11, demonstrate skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11, demonstrate ability to consult with new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about patients' psychosocial needs and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation, online onboarding, and required pre-employment steps and documentation.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification.
• Maintain a full, valid, unrestricted independent license or certification once obtained to remain qualified for employment.
• Use active listening, reading, observation and evaluation of verbal and nonverbal behavior, speaking, report and clinical note writing, policy and procedure writing, and office communication equipment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team and provide direct care and treatment when indicated.
• Use evidence-based practices and treatment modalities, including motivational interviewing or motivational enhancement, crisis intervention, individual case work, group psychotherapy, and group psychoeducation.
• Provide educational, facilitative, and therapeutic leadership in individual and group outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use treatment.
• Complete intake and assessment components and develop treatment plans addressing assessed substance use, mental health, social, and medical needs.
• Provide emergency care to Veterans receiving outpatient substance use treatment, including referrals for emergency primary care, psychiatric medication evaluations, or non-medical detoxification.
• Coordinate care among VA medical center providers, community health and mental health services, Public Housing Authorities, and agencies serving homeless populations.
• Participate in staff meetings concerning clinical, administrative, and staff development issues.
• Participate in program planning and development and recommend changes to policies and procedures as needs and opportunities arise.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Childcare subsidy potentially available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• 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 federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• A sign-on/recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

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