Senior Social Worker (SATP) - Recruitment/Relocation/EDRP Incentive Authorized

Qualifications

Basic requirements: United States citizenship (non‑citizens only if no qualified citizens can be recruited), proficiency in spoken and written English (38 U.S.C. 7403(f)), and a master’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE‑accredited school. A doctoral degree in Social Work does not substitute for the master’s.

License: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level, or meet the Grandfathering Provision for current VHA employees.

Grade: Senior Social Worker – GS‑0185‑12. Advanced‑practice licensure required (except California where a separate clinical exam is used) and ability to provide supervision for licensure.

Experience: Minimum two years of experience after obtaining advanced‑practice clinical licensure, with at least one year at the GS‑11 level. Experience must demonstrate advanced practice skills, judgment, and specialized work such as assessing abuse, maintaining confidentiality, advocating for patients, and conducting psychosocial assessments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to deliver a range of specialized interventions (individual, group, family), conduct advanced psychosocial and case management, incorporate complex causation in diagnosis and treatment, develop outcome‑evaluation methods, provide consultation and role‑modeling, and author policies or practice guidelines.

Preferred experience: VA or DoD experience; at least one year of clinical work providing evidence‑based therapies (e.g., CBT for SUD, Motivational Interviewing, CPT, PE); documented use of evidence‑based practices; and possibly VA‑based telehealth certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide face‑to‑face and tele‑mental‑health services to Veterans at VHA facilities and non‑VA sites.
• Deliver evidence‑based psychotherapy to Veterans with substance‑use disorder and comorbid mental‑health conditions.
• Diagnose mental disorders using DSM‑5 criteria and determine need for clinician‑administered psychometric testing.
• Conduct comprehensive psycho‑diagnostic evaluations, integrating interview data, records, collateral information, and objective tests.
• Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions, employing empirically supported modalities.
• Offer evidence‑based SUD interventions such as CPT and PE.
• Consult with and serve as a resource for other professionals regarding psychological evaluation and service development.
• Coordinate SATP‑related programming within mental‑health service lines.
• Represent the Psychology Section on departmental, VISN, or system committees and work groups.
• Participate in leadership roles within local, state, or national professional organizations.
• Assist in selection, training, and supervision of lower‑grade staff within the Psychology Service.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Pay

Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be awarded based on unique qualifications or special needs.

Benefits

• Paid time off: 37–50 days per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays). Credit toward annual leave may be granted for prior work or military service.
• Parental leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster‑care placement.
• Child‑care subsidy: After 60 days, eligible full‑time employees with family income below $144,000 may receive up to 25 % of eligible child‑care costs, capped at $416.66 per month.
• Retirement: Federal pension (5‑year vesting) and 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage; many plans are portable into retirement.
• Telework: Primarily onsite; occasional or short‑term telework may be approved after required training and agreement.
• Recruitment/relocation incentives: Authorized recruitment incentives for new or returning federal employees; relocation incentives may be authorized when necessary to fill the position.

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, which reimburses student‑loan payments. Applicants must meet VHA eligibility criteria and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amounts (up to $200,000) and eligibility periods (one to five years) are determined after a complete review by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office.