Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program/ Substance Use Disorders Provider

Veterans Health Administration • Lafayette, LA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker serves in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program and provides services related to substance use disorders. The position uses the Collaborative Chronic Care Model to support coordinated, proactive, population-based care and follows referral-management practices designed to provide timely, person-centered coordination and continuity for Veterans. The Social Worker case-manages Veterans receiving BHIP-level care in collaboration with an interdisciplinary treatment team, supporting equitable access and quality of care.

The role independently identifies Veterans’ psychosocial needs, conducts assessments, develops treatment plans with Veterans, families, and the treatment team, and delivers counseling, psychotherapy, and other psychosocial interventions. It includes identifying high-risk patients, providing case management and crisis intervention, coordinating family conferences, and arranging community-based services and referrals. The Social Worker also consults with staff about psychosocial needs and their effects on health care and treatment adherence, evaluates practice through peer review and case conferences, and uses knowledge of Veterans’ benefits and services to facilitate appropriate referrals.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the schedule may change based on facility needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. The work is performed in an office or clinic setting and may involve stressful situations and handling several tasks at once. Physical activities may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing may be required.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and approval. The potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years, as determined by the program office. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-9 or GS-11. 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 basic requirements, subject to the stated GS-9 exception. GS-11 additionally requires 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, with a doctoral degree in social work potentially substituting for the experience requirement.

Requirements

• 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 this basic master’s requirement.
• For GS-11 and above, state licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level is required. The stated GS-9 exception allows qualifying candidates to obtain licensure or certification within the specified period and requires supervision until independently licensed.
• For GS-11, at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social-work-related setting, unless substituted by a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities specified for the applicable grade, including counseling across diverse backgrounds, psychosocial assessment and treatment planning, treatment modalities, effective working relationships, and knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses and treatment procedures.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in sometimes stressful situations; physical duties may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing.

Responsibilities

• Use the Collaborative Chronic Care Model to facilitate coordinated, proactive, population-based care.
• Follow referral-management procedures that support timely, person-centered coordination and continuity for Veterans, including re-engagement, referral, or transition to other levels of care.
• Case-manage Veterans receiving BHIP-level care and collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team to provide comprehensive health care services and promote equitable access and quality.
• Independently conduct case finding and outreach to identify and screen patients for psychosocial needs.
• Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Implement treatment modalities and provide counseling or psychotherapy to individuals and families; offer psychosocial interventions and measure their outcomes.
• Coordinate community-based services and provide information and referrals to VA programs, government programs, and community agencies.
• Identify high-risk patients and provide case-management services.
• 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, including working with people experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Provide consultation to staff regarding Veterans’ psychosocial needs and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plans.
• Evaluate own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means.
• Use knowledge of Veterans’ benefits and services, including service-connected compensation and non-service-connected pension, to facilitate referrals based on needs and eligibility.
• Communicate with and treat Veterans, representatives, visitors, and VA staff courteously, tactfully, and respectfully; handle conflict and consumer problems constructively.
• Use word-processing, data-management, and other computer systems, particularly programs used by VHA.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000.
• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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