Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration • Perry Point, MD

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Residential Screening Social Worker coordinates and screens Veteran patients for one of three VAMHCS residential programs. The role assesses Veterans for residential readiness, treatment goals, risk factors, and placement. The GS-12 social worker may provide services or cross-coverage to residential programs as needed.

The position manages consults within policy timelines, coordinates residential screening, and completes timely, clinically appropriate documentation. It conducts suicide-risk screening in accordance with policy, including completion of the C-SSRS, CSRE, and Suicide Safety Plan as appropriate. The social worker may provide case management to Veterans awaiting residential placement and may participate in the education and supervision of social work graduate students and training.

The social worker works independently with patients and families experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems, using individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills under the supervision of a state-approved supervisor. The role requires working knowledge of medical and mental-health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, and courteous, respectful communication with Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and VA staff.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis; this is not a virtual position. Relocation, recruitment incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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.
• Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade determination, at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level, with an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless grandfathered under applicable state rules; must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial and/or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, using outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel requirement.
• Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or other post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.

Responsibilities

• Manage consults as appropriate within policy timelines.
• Coordinate residential screenings and document them in a timely and clinically appropriate manner.
• Screen and assess suicide risk according to policy, completing the C-SSRS, CSRE, and Suicide Safety Plan as appropriate.
• Provide case management services to Veterans awaiting residential placement, as needed.
• Work independently with patients and families experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems, using individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills under supervision of a state-approved supervisor.
• Communicate with and treat Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and VA staff courteously, tactfully, and respectfully.
• Handle conflicts and problems in dealing with consumers constructively and appropriately.
• May provide services or cross-coverage to residential programs as needed.
• May participate in education and supervision of social work graduate students and training.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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