Social Worker - Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Coralville, IA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, counseling, treatment planning, case management, and education to Veterans, their families, and caregivers. The role works with other disciplines to ensure psychosocial needs are addressed and independently implements treatment plans and counseling modalities. Support includes helping individuals and families cope with disability, terminal illness, and death, and providing information about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.

The Social Worker serves as a consultant to team members and a liaison between the VA and community resources, and may support marketing and public relations. The position provides case management throughout the continuum of care and wellness and prevention education. It also requires documenting interventions in clinical records, maintaining data and statistical reports in accordance with applicable policies, and using computer applications for documentation, data management, and tracking. The role requires effective communication and relationship-building with Veterans, families, staff, and community agencies, as well as knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, and common medications. Participation in peer reviews, case conferences, professional growth, and self-evaluation is expected.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position. Selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11, with GS-11 as the full performance level. 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 requires one year of qualifying post-MSW experience and independent-practice licensure/certification, or a qualifying doctoral degree in social work as a substitute for the experience requirement. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its requirements and approval.

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 this basic master's degree requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's level; the stated pending-licensure exception applies only at GS-9.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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 state licensure or certification for independent practice; alternatively, a qualifying doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the one-year experience requirement.
• Demonstrate a Veteran-centric approach when providing interventions and counseling to Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Assess psychosocial functioning and needs, formulate and implement treatment plans, and identify problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and needed assistance.
• Implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups, using judgment and supportive, problem-solving, or crisis-intervention techniques as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Have fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses or injuries, common medications and their effects or side effects, and medical terminology.
• For GS-11: know community resources and referral processes and be able to coordinate services.
• For GS-11: independently conduct psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
• For GS-11: independently implement treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems.
• For GS-11: 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.
• U.S. citizenship is required, 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.
• Meet required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Complete a pre-employment examination or evaluation.

Nice To Haves

• Prior work experience or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.
• Current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the stated criteria may qualify under the grandfathering provision.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of Veterans, their families, and caregivers.
• Participate with other disciplines in treatment planning, ensuring psychosocial needs are considered.
• Independently implement treatment plans and provide individual and family counseling, including support for coping with disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Provide consultation and education about community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Serve as a consultant to team members regarding psychosocial needs.
• Act as a liaison between the VA and community resources, including marketing and public relations duties when needed.
• Provide case management throughout the continuum of care.
• Provide wellness and prevention education.
• Use computer applications for documentation, data management, and tracking; maintain data and statistical reports in accordance with JCAHO, VA, and Medical Center policies and procedures.
• Document social work interventions and activities in patient clinical records to support continuity and hand-offs in care.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships and communicate with patients, families, and community agencies across cultural and professional settings.
• Participate in professional peer reviews and case conferences, and engage in professional growth and self-evaluation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may receive a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other conditions.
• 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.
• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, up to $200,000, subject to individual eligibility, application review, and program approval.

What This Job Offers

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