Social Worker - Rural Access Network Growth Enhancement (Range)

Veterans Health Administration • Lincoln, NE

12d

About The Position

The Social Worker serves as a case manager for Veterans in the Rural Access Network Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program, delivering psychosocial services to Veterans and their families in rural and underserved areas. The role facilitates access to care and helps Veterans and families obtain resources to meet their needs. As part of a multidisciplinary team, the Social Worker provides assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and follow-up, using advanced skill to address psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial concerns. Direct contacts with Veterans and families take place in the home, with contact frequency potentially increasing during crises. Case management and social work practice—including psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment—are directed toward helping Veterans and families maximize their ability to live independently.

The position requires a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited school and state licensure or certification to independently practice at the master's level. For GS-9 appointments, applicants may qualify without experience beyond the basic requirements, with a requirement to obtain independent licensure or certification within three years. GS-11 appointments require either one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting and independent licensure or certification, or a doctoral degree in social work that substitutes for the experience requirement. The vacancy's full performance level is GS-11, with selection at GS-9 through GS-11.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not virtual; ad-hoc telework is noted. A pre-employment physical examination or evaluation is required. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment, and former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Recruitment incentives and relocation assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy 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 master's degree requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level. The licensure exception applies only to GS-9 appointments, with licensure or certification required within three years of appointment.
• 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 state licensure or certification; alternatively, a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.
• Ability to use a Veteran-centric approach when providing interventions and counseling to Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans that identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses or injuries, common medications and effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11: knowledge of community resources and referral processes, and ability to coordinate services.
• For GS-11: skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions with people from varied socioeconomic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• For GS-11: skill in independently implementing treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11: ability to provide consultation to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about patients' psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process, and meet application documentation requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the RANGE Program and their families.
• Independently work with Veterans and families experiencing complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Complete psychosocial assessments to determine Veterans' and families' functioning and needs, and use assessment findings to support treatment engagement and the highest practicable level of independence.
• Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and collaborate with Veterans, families, and team members to develop and implement individualized, resident-centered treatment plans.
• Apply working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• Collaborate with and consult referring interdisciplinary treatment teams to facilitate continuity of care, appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, and discharge planning.
• Serve as a liaison between Veterans or their families and VA and community resources to support thorough delivery of services.
• Implement treatment modalities; provide social skills training, patient education, counseling, and supportive groups for Veterans and families.
• Educate Veterans and families about community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives.
• Maintain knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services, community resources, and processes for referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.
• Provide direct contacts to Veterans and families in their homes, with increased contact frequency as needed during crises.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible child care costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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