Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves on the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) multidisciplinary team within the Social Work Service Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The team provides outpatient assessments and medication management, case management, and specialized individual and group therapy for Veterans. The role includes psychosocial screening and outreach, counseling and psychotherapy, treatment planning, community-service coordination, case management, crisis intervention, and consultation with staff. The position is not virtual, and telework is not available. Work is performed in an office or clinic setting. The work schedule is an alternate schedule that may include evenings and/or Saturdays and is subject to change based on facility needs.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The EDRP application must be submitted within four months of appointment. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Candidates must meet VA social worker education and licensure requirements. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification for independent practice at the master's level are generally required. GS-9 candidates may qualify under the stated licensure exception while completing state requirements. GS-11 candidates generally need at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in a health care or other social-work-related setting and independent-practice licensure or certification, or a qualifying doctoral degree in social work in place of the experience requirement. The position may be filled at GS-9 through GS-11; GS-11 is the full-performance level.

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 does not substitute for the master's degree basic requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level. The stated exception may apply at GS-9 while completing state licensure or certification prerequisites; GS-11 candidates must be licensed or certified.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, plus independent-practice licensure or certification; alternatively, a qualifying doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• For GS-9, meet the basic requirements; no additional experience, education, or licensure beyond those basic requirements is specified, subject to the stated licensure exception.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the selected grade, including psychosocial assessment and treatment planning; counseling and treatment of individuals, families, and groups; crisis intervention; communication and relationship-building; and knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; independent psychosocial assessment and intervention; treatment planning; use of treatment modalities; and ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Meet applicable application, background/security investigation, onboarding, and identification requirements; male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and serve the required one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical requirements may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with clients who have a mental health diagnosis.
• Experience working with clients who are unstably housed or identified as homeless.
• Experience providing evidence-based psychotherapy, including CBT, ACT, DBT, IPT, Motivational Interviewing, or Problem Solving Therapy.
• Experience working in an outpatient mental health setting.
• Experience providing Measurement Based Care to inform treatment planning.
• Experience adapting technology and computer-assisted programs to deliver treatments and improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Conduct case-finding and outreach to identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs.
• Use treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups.
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Coordinate community-based services and provide information and referrals to VA programs, government programs, and community agencies.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide routine case management, including high-risk case management when warranted.
• Provide crisis intervention addressing both underlying causes and presenting concerns; coordinate family conferences and serve as a liaison to family members.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.
• Work with patients and families experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems using individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills.
• Consult with other staff about Veterans' psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment-plan adherence.
• Facilitate referrals according to Veterans' needs and eligibility.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible selected applicants may receive 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with VA contributions of 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