Social Worker - Inpatient Psychiatry

Veterans Health Administration • Cleveland, OH

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker is assigned to Inpatient Psychiatry and establishes and maintains therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families. The position completes psychosocial assessments, participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning, facilitates discharge planning, connects Veterans and families with VA and community resources, and consults with treatment team members about psychosocial needs and their effects on health care planning, treatment compliance, and discharge planning.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It may be filled at the GS-9 or GS-11 grade level, with GS-11 as the full performance level. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. Eligible applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; the program office determines the award amount, up to $200,000, and eligibility period of one to five years.

Requirements

• 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 this basic requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception for candidates completing state prerequisites.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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 state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional clinical social work experience.
• For GS-9: demonstrate ability to counsel Veterans and family members from diverse backgrounds; assess psychosocial functioning and needs and develop and implement treatment plans; use treatment modalities and supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques; establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; and apply fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11: demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions with diverse individuals; knowledge of diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology to formulate treatment plans; skill independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Meet applicable employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship (subject to the stated policy exception), background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, seasonal influenza vaccination, onboarding, and any required application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with discharge planning for patients with complex needs.
• Experience working with Veterans with severe mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families in the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.
• Complete psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Participate in the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with Veterans, families, and team members to develop and implement Veteran-centered treatment plans.
• Facilitate discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Act as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to support delivery of services.
• Provide consultation to treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care planning, treatment compliance, and discharge planning.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• 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 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 up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval, with awards up to $200,000.

What This Job Offers

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