Social Worker (Inpatient Mental Health)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

About the Role

The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.

Responsibilities

• Assesses and provides supportive counseling and resources to Veterans
• Possesses working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures in working with diverse populations and circumstances
• Determines the presenting concern, determine psychosocial factors impacting the concern, and determine obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments
• Social work case management coordination with members of the treatment team is required, in order to ensure a collaborative effort to meet the treatment goals for a Veteran
• This may require the incumbent to act as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services
• Possesses knowledge and ability to implement psychotherapeutic treatment modalities, provide education, and/or treatment and supportive groups for Veterans and families
• Works schedule: 40 hours a week - Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school, licensure or certification as a master's degree level independent practice social worker
• Additional Requirements: One year of post-MSW experience in a clinical setting OR a doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school

Benefits

• EDRP - Student loan payment reimbursement program

Pay

Grade Determinations: GS-09 None beyond the basic requirements
GS-11 Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 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) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level OR In addition to meeting basic requirements - a 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

Schedule

Work Schedule: 40 hours a week - Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Skills

• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability 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 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 procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, psychiatric, medical, and social problems, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school, licensure or certification as a master's degree level independent practice social worker
• Additional Requirements: One year of post-MSW experience in a clinical setting OR a doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school

Benefits

• EDRP - Student loan payment reimbursement program

Pay

Grade Determinations: GS-09 None beyond the basic requirements
GS-11 Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 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) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level OR In addition to meeting basic requirements - a 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

Schedule

Work Schedule: 40 hours a week - Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Skills

• Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability 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 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 procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, psychiatric, medical, and social problems, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology