Social Worker

Air National Guard Units • Little Rock AFB, AR

2d

About The Position

This is a National Guard Title 5 excepted service position for a Social Worker with the Arkansas Air National Guard. The role supports the psychological health of the installation and promotes the readiness and well-being of National Guard members, their families, and the broader community. The Social Worker advises command and unit leadership, conducts assessments and evaluations, provides short-term evidence-based interventions and consultation, and coordinates access to clinical, counseling, and community resources.

The position also develops and delivers prevention, outreach, education, and awareness programs; tracks and reports psychological health and suicide-prevention data; and collaborates with military and civilian agencies and health professionals. Clinical duties include risk and fitness-for-duty assessments, command-directed evaluations, deployment-related clearances and assessments, documentation, treatment-team participation, and on-call consultation. The employee may share rotational after-hours and weekend on-call responsibilities and may need to perform other care or work outside regular duty hours.

Requirements

• Current, unrestricted license to practice clinical social work independently in a U.S. state or territory listed in the posting.
• Must be privileged for independent practice by the Credentials Committee at the employing Medical Treatment Facility and maintain required credentials, license, BLS, and clinical competencies.
• Must be a fully qualified mental health professional under AFI 44-119 and obtain or maintain privileging under the cited DHA and Air Force requirements.
• At least 24 months of experience in clinical social work assignments; completion of the Air Force Social Work Internship Program may substitute for 12 months of this experience requirement.
• Knowledge of social work theories, principles, techniques, and resources.
• Specialized professional social work experience interviewing people to establish the nature and extent of problems, helping develop plans, providing assistance and services, referring people to community resources, and helping them understand or modify behavior when appropriate.
• Ability to conduct the assessments, evaluations, consultations, and other duties required by the position.
• Must obtain Basic Life Support certification within six months of onboarding, in accordance with local Medical Group policies.
• Must obtain the appropriate Information Assurance certification within six months of assignment of these duties.
• Subject to random drug testing as a drug-testing-designated position.
• May be required to complete a probationary period and a background investigation for federal employment suitability and security clearance.
• May be required to complete a State Criminal History Repository check if selected for a position identified as having regular contact with children.
• Must register under the Military Selective Service Act if the applicant is a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Professional responsibility includes following state and professional licensing and ethical practice guidelines.
• Must be able to perform clinical and administrative duties that may involve after-hours care or work.

Nice To Haves

• A Master of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited institution is highly desired.
• At least two years within the past five years in independent clinical social work practice is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Advise command and unit leadership on psychological health, operational readiness, workplace issues, prevention, and applying psychological health solutions to operational problems.
• Support implementation of the Air National Guard comprehensive psychological health strategic plan and promote psychological health and help-seeking within the wingman culture.
• Brief newly appointed commanders and other leaders on the ANG Psychological Health Program and provide annual leadership training on psychological health issues.
• Serve as a community liaison with military and civilian agencies, coordinate prevention efforts, maintain community partnerships and referral resources, and participate in relevant committees and community activities.
• Provide tailored psychological health education and presentations, including training on recognizing and assisting people experiencing psychological health conditions.
• Respond to traumatic or potentially traumatic events and serve as the subject matter expert for suicide-event reporting and related prevention and trend analysis.
• Consult with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator as a referral resource and psychological health subject matter expert.
• Collect, analyze, and report installation psychological health and related program data to ANG, Air Force, and Department of Defense stakeholders; prepare recurring reports and statistical analyses.
• Conduct routine and crisis assessments, psycho-diagnostic assessments, command-directed evaluations, and short-term evidence-based problem-resolution services; provide on-site and telephone consultation and coordinate clinical and community services.
• Perform risk assessments and determine the degree of danger posed by patients; document records in SOAP format; screen records and personnel for security clearances and make administrative recommendations.
• Provide after-hours on-call consultation to commanders and First Sergeants for urgent and emergent mental health concerns, potentially on a shared rotational basis.
• Conduct fitness-for-duty assessments, initiate physical profiles, recommend duty restrictions, conduct pre- and post-deployment clearances and deployment health assessment closeouts, and provide diagnoses and rationale for line-of-duty determinations.
• Participate in treatment teams to formulate and implement patient resolution plans.
• Design, develop, coordinate, and implement prevention, community outreach, education, and special awareness programs and materials.
• Provide or facilitate Master Resiliency Training and consult with commanders on unit-delivered training and resilience activities.
• Market and evaluate the ANG Psychological Health Program, developing strategies to encourage participation in psychological health services and prevention activities.
• Provide consultation, advice, education, and training to health professionals, military leaders and personnel, families, and community agencies on prevention and well-being.
• Advise National Guard leadership on local psychological health needs and recommend service access and courses of action throughout deployment cycles and surge situations.
• Brief commanders, senior wing personnel, and committees on prevention issues and brief members leaving for or returning from deployments on the Psychological Health Program and deployment-related impacts.
• Prepare meeting agendas and notes, track recommendations and program data, coordinate reporting requirements, and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; specific eligibility and benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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