Social Worker

About the role

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications is Friday - May 29 - 2026 and applicants will be referred on an 'as needed' basis thereafter. Announcement will remain open through 08/24/2026 but may be extended or closed after the initial cut-off date if needed prior to the initial closing date. Note: Vacancies may not currently exist at all locations - but may later prior to the closing date. Applicants will be notified at time of referral.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: You must possess a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Grandfather Provision: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• Able to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goalsThis requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment proceduresThis includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuriescommon medications and their effects/side effectsand medical terminology

Experience or Education

• Post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non- VA experience)
• One year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non- VA experience)
• Doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting

Physical Requirements

Day-to-day work involves sitting - walking - standing and carrying light objects - such as medical recordsWork is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable disease common of the homeless population.

Duties

• Performs case finding functions and outreach - identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs
• Implements treatment modalities
• Provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groups
• Conducts psychosocial assessments
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran - their families and caregiver and with the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Offers psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions
• Captions: Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families
• Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problems utilizing individual - group and family counseling and therapy skills
• Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately
• Provides customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures