Senior Social Worker

About the role

This position is located within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Southeast Network (VISN 7) - VA Augusta Health Care System in the Mental Health Service's Substance Use Recovery Center (SURC). The Senior Clinical Social Worker practices independently at the advanced licensure level - providing specialized clinical psychosocial and case management services to Veterans experiencing substance use disorders (SUD) - co-occurring mental health conditions - and related psychosocial challenges.

Responsibilities

• Provides advanced psychosocial and case management services for Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions
• Delivers supportive counseling and recovery-focused interventions aimed at reducing relapse risk - improving coping - and increasing engagement in treatment
• Independently assesses high-risk factors such as detox needs - withdrawal risk - overdose risk - relapse history - housing instability - and social determinants impacting recovery
• Conducts detailed - recovery-focused psychosocial assessments including substance use history - treatment history - recovery strengths - triggers - psychosocial implications of SUD - and readiness for change
• Incorporates complex multiple causation when diagnosing mental health and substance use disorders within approved clinical privilege - Identifies treatment barriers and collaborates with Veterans and family/support systems to address them
• Develops individualized treatment plans that integrate SUD recovery goals - harm-reduction strategies - relapse-prevention planning - and coordination with interdisciplinary provider
• Provides independent consultation to team members regarding clinical assessment findings and recommended treatment approaches for SUD and co-occurring disorders
• Determines appropriate use of VA and community recovery resources (e.g. - residential treatment - detoxification services - peer support - community sober-living options)
• Provides individual - group - and family counseling tailored to substance use recovery - including relapse-prevention groups - psychoeducation - recovery skills training - and evidence-based psychotherapies
• Engages Veterans in exploring recovery motivation - evaluating substance-related consequences - and building coping strategies through structured interventions
• Coordinates care with community-based agencies - residential SUD programs - shelters - halfway houses - and other relevant supports
• Maintains a productive network of referral resources specific to SUD and co-occurring treatment needs
• Participates in SURC program development - outcome measurement - and quality-improvement initiatives
• Evaluates practice effectiveness through peer review - case conferences - chart audits - and data-driven analyses
• Adjusts treatment plans based on evolving clinical needs or Veteran response to interventions
• Maintains adherence to professional standards of SUD treatment and supports staff in achieving proficiency in contemporary SUD modalities
• Educates Veterans and family/significant others on substance use - mental health conditions - relapse prevention - and recovery planning
• Provides mentorship and supervision to Social Workers and other trainees
• Delivers staff education on SUD treatment modalities - screening tools - crisis management - and recovery-oriented best practices
• Independently documents assessments - diagnostics - treatment plans - psychotherapy notes - progress updates - safety plans - and referrals following VA and clinic standards

Qualifications

• Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
• Basic Requirements
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Education: Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until full accreditation. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree. Verification: