Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Smith, AR

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Social Worker position serves the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Social Work Service, Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT), at the Fort Smith, Arkansas Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. The Social Worker collaborates with Veterans, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members to assess psychosocial needs, develop treatment plans, establish achievable goals, and connect Veterans with appropriate VA and community services. The role includes supporting adult and geriatric patients, advocating for Veterans when appropriate, and educating Veterans and caregivers about available resources, entitlements, advance directives, and living wills. The position is in an office clinic setting and is not virtual. Telework may be available at the supervisor’s discretion. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on service needs. The position’s full performance level is GS-11, and selection may be at GS-9 or GS-11.

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 the master’s degree.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s level is required for GS-11. At GS-9, licensure or certification may be waived temporarily while state prerequisites are completed; the independent master’s-level license or certification must generally be obtained within three years of appointment, subject to the stated state-specific provisions.
• 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 a doctoral degree in social work qualifies as a substitute for the required year of clinical professional experience.
• For GS-9, no experience beyond the basic requirements is required.
• Demonstrate the applicable grade-level knowledge, skills, and abilities in psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, counseling, treatment modalities, communication, medical and mental health conditions, community resources, referrals, service coordination, and consultation as specified in the announcement.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must be able to independently operate a government vehicle and provide a clean driving record report from the DMV.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation, complete onboarding requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable, with continued employment subject to written certification.

Nice To Haves

• Experience completing comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments.

Responsibilities

• Assess Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, Veterans, family members, and significant others to identify needs and formulate plans to address them.
• Apply knowledge of adult and geriatric patients’ physical limitations, psychological needs, age-associated illnesses, and age-appropriate concerns in treatment.
• Contribute to treatment-plan development and establish achievable treatment goals with Veterans and their families or caregivers.
• Reassess Veterans’ needs in collaboration with other service providers.
• Educate Veterans and family members or caregivers about available VA and community services and help establish appropriate referrals based on the Veteran’s or surrogate decision-maker’s preferences.
• Maintain and enhance the VA and community social-service resource file and refer Veterans to needed services.
• Advocate for Veterans and their families or caregivers when appropriate, and encourage Veterans to advocate for themselves when feasible.
• Provide education about VA and community resources, entitlements, advance directives, and living wills; refer identified health-education needs to appropriate interdisciplinary team members.
• Review other providers’ progress notes to assess each Veteran’s strengths and limitations, explain available options to the Veteran, family, or caregiver, and collaborate on a preferred option.
• Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions, coordinate referrals and services, and implement appropriate treatment modalities.
• Provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff regarding patients’ psychosocial needs and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance, as applicable to the GS-11 role.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 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.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave related to birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• After 60 days of employment, eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible costs, up to $416.66 per month.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can continue into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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