Social Worker - Outpatient Emergency Department

Veterans Health Administration • Little Rock, AR

17h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Social Work and Care Transition Service at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and is assigned to the Outpatient Emergency Department. The social worker serves Veterans, families, and caregivers in a complex healthcare setting, addressing medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial concerns through clinical social work and care-transition services.

The role includes psychosocial assessment, case and care management, suicide risk screening and assessment, safety planning, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, treatment planning, and coordination of referrals and placements. The social worker collaborates with Veterans and their support systems, Patient Aligned Care Team members, interdisciplinary treatment teams, community agencies, and other staff. The role also includes education about community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, advance directives, and advance care planning.

Non-clinical work includes participation in committees and performance-improvement activities, keeping the supervisor informed of problems and proposed solutions, maintaining professional development and licensure, and assisting with orientation and mentoring of new social workers and social work students. The position follows a rotating two-week schedule: Week 1 is Sunday through Friday, 2:30 p.m.–11:00 p.m.; Week 2 is Monday through Thursday, 2:30 p.m.–11:00 p.m. The schedule includes holidays and may change based on facility needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is in an office/clinic setting and may involve stressful situations and multiple concurrent tasks.

The full-performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11. Applicants must meet VA social worker education and licensure requirements. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school is required. GS-11 requires at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in healthcare or another social-work-related setting, as well as state licensure or certification for independent practice; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the year of experience. Preferred qualifications include post-LCSW experience, medical social work and mental health experience, interdisciplinary-team experience, crisis intervention and suicide-risk evaluation experience, and Microsoft Office proficiency.

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 cannot substitute for this basic 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 timelines for obtaining independent licensure.
• For GS-11: at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in healthcare or another social-work-related setting, and independent-practice state licensure or certification. A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required year of professional experience.
• Demonstrate a Veteran-centered approach and ability to assess psychosocial needs, formulate and implement treatment plans, and use supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques.
• Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Demonstrate 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 referral coordination; skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions; ability to formulate treatment plans and independently implement treatment modalities; and ability to consult with new social workers, graduate students, and other staff.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete the required application and onboarding processes.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• 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

• Two years of experience after LCSW licensure.
• At least four years of medical social work experience.
• At least three years of mental health experience.
• Prior experience working with an interdisciplinary team.
• Prior experience completing comprehensive suicide risk evaluations or other crisis intervention, including safety planning.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Work with Veterans and their support systems experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues.
• Provide case and care management throughout the continuum of care.
• Complete brief or comprehensive psychosocial assessments and use findings to develop action plans that promote treatment-resource use and the highest practicable level of independence.
• Identify high-risk needs and prioritize case and care management services.
• Conduct suicide risk screenings and comprehensive suicide risk assessments; incorporate safety planning and goals into individualized treatment plans.
• Collaborate with Patient Aligned Care Team members, Veterans, support systems, and interdisciplinary treatment teams to develop and implement patient-centered care, treatment goals, and interventions.
• Provide education about advance directives and assist with completing forms; help identify appropriate decision makers when a Veteran cannot make their own decisions.
• Facilitate advance care planning group visits when appropriate.
• Coordinate timely VA and community placements and referrals with Veterans, support systems, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Provide supportive counseling regarding the psychosocial effects of chronic or disabling illness, catastrophic illness, and dying.
• Provide crisis intervention, rapid assessments, and crisis management plans to support transition to the appropriate level of care.
• Educate and consult with Veterans and support systems about community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives.
• Consult with treatment teams and staff about psychosocial needs and how psychosocial problems affect healthcare planning and treatment compliance.
• Participate in facility committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.
• Inform the supervisor of problems and recommended solutions in the area of responsibility.
• Maintain professional growth through continuing education and compliance with licensure requirements.
• Assist with orientation and mentoring of newly hired social workers and serve as a field instructor for social work students.
• Participate in performance-improvement processes and comply with applicable performance measures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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