Social Worker (Inpatient Acute Psychiatry Unit)

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane, WA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, counseling, and treatment to Veterans and their families in an inpatient acute psychiatry unit. The role serves people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds who may be experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems. The Social Worker assesses psychosocial functioning and needs, develops and implements treatment plans in collaboration with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team, and coordinates care and community referrals. The position also provides consultation and coaching to staff and social work students, maintains required clinical and statistical documentation, and supports patients and families coping with disability, terminal illness, death, and grief.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and VHA approval. It is a permanent federal position, with a full performance level of GS-11 and selection at GS-9 to GS-11. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position is not virtual; ad-hoc telework is noted. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Applicants must meet the applicable education, licensure, and grade requirements. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school is required. At GS-11, applicants generally need at least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 in health care or another social work-related setting and independent-level state licensure or certification; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement. The posting identifies acute inpatient psychiatric experience or equivalent inpatient medical social work experience as preferred.

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 the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level, subject to the stated GS-9 exception for candidates completing state prerequisites.
• 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-level state licensure or certification; a doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the experience requirement.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Veterans and families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds using counseling skills.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement treatment plans.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, including supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of community resources, referral processes, and service coordination.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions across diverse populations.
• Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy to individuals, groups, and families within the bounds of the individual's license or certification.
• Ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship is generally required; the posting notes a limited policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Valid state-issued driver's license with an unrestricted history in accordance with VA policy for driving a government vehicle.
• 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.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Nice To Haves

• Acute inpatient psychiatric experience or equivalent inpatient medical social work experience.
• Doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the GS-11 one-year post-MSW experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments of patients and family members and identify needs, problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Develop and implement treatment plans in collaboration with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Provide counseling and/or psychotherapy to individuals, groups, and families using appropriate psychosocial treatment modalities.
• Use supportive, problem-solving, crisis-intervention, and other treatment approaches to address psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Coordinate treatment and communicate with care lines to support continuity of care for Veterans.
• Identify community resources, make appropriate referrals to community and governmental agencies, and coordinate services.
• Provide consultation to staff regarding patients’ psychosocial needs and the effects of psychosocial problems on health care and treatment compliance.
• Orient and coach new social workers and social work graduate students, and serve as a field instructor for graduate students completing VHA placements.
• Address advance directives and organ donation in accordance with work-area standards.
• Maintain data and statistical compilations in compliance with JCAHO, VA, and medical center policies and procedures.
• Support patients and significant others in coping with loss and grief related to disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Use computer applications to draft documents, manage data, and track information.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with possible awards up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or agency needs.
• 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 and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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