Social Worker - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration • North Little Rock, AR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) on the North Little Rock Campus, a 154-bed residential treatment program comprising a 60-bed Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program, a 40-bed Domiciliary Substance Abuse program, a 28-bed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Domiciliary program, and a 26-bed General Domiciliary. The Social Worker works closely with an interdisciplinary team to coordinate care for Veterans. The position supports Veterans and their support systems experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues, and provides assessment, treatment planning, counseling, referrals, consultation, education, and case management.

The work schedule is either four 10-hour shifts or five 8-hour shifts, including weekends, and may change based on facility needs. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position. Work is performed in an office or clinic setting with minimal risks and normal safety precautions, although the role may involve handling several tasks at once in stressful situations. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 to GS-11.

Candidates must meet VA social worker education and licensure requirements. Applicants need a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and, generally, state licensure or certification for independent master's-level practice. A licensure exception may apply at GS-9, subject to VA requirements and deadlines. GS-11 applicants need at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent-practice licensure or certification; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement. The role requires the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities for the applicable grade.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree cannot substitute for this master's degree requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception and VA deadlines.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, and independent-practice state licensure or certification. A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• For GS-9, demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach; ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans; ability to use treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, including supportive, problem-solving, and crisis-intervention techniques; ability to establish and maintain working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies; and fundamental knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, medications, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of community resources and referral coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and interventions with diverse individuals; knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to formulate treatment plans; skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and staff about psychosocial needs and their effects on health care and treatment compliance.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete application and onboarding requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Meet any applicable requirements for foreign education, including a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a substance use disorder treatment provider.
• At least two years of experience in mental health.
• Case management experience.
• Interest in serving as a field instructor for social work students, if qualified.

Responsibilities

• Work with Veterans and their support systems who are experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues.
• Identify high-risk needs and prioritize case management services.
• Complete brief or comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine Veterans’ and support systems’ psychosocial functioning and needs.
• Use assessment findings with the Veteran to develop a treatment or action plan that maximizes treatment programs and resources and supports the highest feasible level of independent functioning.
• Collaborate with Veterans, support systems, and the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions.
• Provide information and education about advance directives, including durable power of attorney for health care, living wills, health care directives, and treatment-preference documents.
• Conduct comprehensive suicide-risk screenings and assessments, and incorporate safety planning and goals into individualized treatment plans.
• Assess risks, safety, and supports, and implement appropriate interventions for people experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, or domestic or intimate-partner violence.
• Coordinate timely VA and community referrals with Veterans, support systems, and interdisciplinary treatment team members.
• Educate and consult with Veterans and support systems about community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives.
• Consult with treatment-team members and staff about psychosocial needs, health care planning, and treatment compliance.
• Participate in facility committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.
• Keep the supervisor informed of problems and recommended solutions.
• Assist with orientation and mentoring of newly hired social workers and, if interested and qualified, serve as a field instructor for social work students.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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.

What This Job Offers

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