Senior Social Worker

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to Veteran patients as a member of the PCT, frequently collaborating and consulting with the O/P SUD program; time allocation varies by program needs.
• In the PCT, focus on outpatient treatment of Veterans with PTSD and related diagnoses: conduct psychological evaluation, individual and group psychotherapy, interdisciplinary consultation, emphasizing evidence‑based treatments (e.g., EMDR, CPT, PE).
• In the O/P SUD program, treat Veterans with co‑morbid PTSD spectrum and SUD‑related diagnoses: psychological evaluation, individual and group psychotherapy, interdisciplinary consultation, emphasizing evidence‑based treatments (e.g., motivational interviewing, stages of change, cognitive‑behavioral approaches).
• Create comprehensive treatment plans for assigned Veterans as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team in both programs.
• Provide clinical outreach to Veterans in the PCT (e.g., psychoeducation, orientation to the time‑limited evidence‑based model of care).
• Manage clinical consults to the PCT program from other Behavioral Health programs and between providers within the PCT.
• Demonstrate skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs with specialized populations.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families at a high level of skill and expertise.
• Independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Utilize assessments to facilitate Veterans’ maximum use of treatment for the highest attainable level of independence.
• Actively participate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team; collaborate with Veterans, families, and team members in developing and implementing treatment plans.
• Possess working knowledge and experience with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses.
• Facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary team to ensure timely execution of appropriate discharge plans.
• Serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough service delivery.
• Possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling, and/or lead supportive groups for Veterans and families.

Requirements

• United States Citizenship (non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy).
• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); candidacy status does not satisfy this requirement.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English (38 U.S.C. §7403(f)).

Qualifications

• GS‑12 Senior Social Worker Grade Determinations:
  • At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure, with a specialized area of social work practice; one year must be equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level.
  • Possession of advanced practice skills and judgment; expertise in a specialized area of practice.
  • May hold certification or other post‑masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
  • Licensure/Certification: Must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level, which includes an advanced generalist or clinical examination (unless grandfathered by the state; California administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice). Must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • (a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations (individual, group, family counseling/psychotherapy; advanced psychosocial/case management).
  • (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
  • (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and design system changes.
  • (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, and to role‑model effective social work practice skills.
  • (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligible – award amount up to $200,000; eligibility period one to five years