Social Worker (Inpatient Psychiatry Unit)

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Veterans Health Administration (VHA) – VA Mid‑Atlantic Care Network (VISN 6) – Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) – under the Social Work Service Line (SWSL).

Basic Requirements

• United States citizenship is required; non‑citizens may be appointed only when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy.

Education

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until full accreditation is achieved.
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the required master’s degree.
• Verification of accreditation can be made at http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.

Licensure

• Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS‑0185 series must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level.
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for GS‑9 appointments pending completion of state prerequisites; for GS‑11 and above, licensure or certification is required at the time of appointment.
• GS‑9 appointees who are not licensed at appointment must obtain independent‑practice licensure within three years (or within one year after meeting state prerequisites in states with longer requirements, such as California or Washington).
• Unlicensed social workers must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who has access to the electronic health record.
• State‑specific licensure levels are documented in VHA surveys; most states use the ASWB series of exams (https://www.aswb.org/).
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Grandfathering provision may apply to current VHA employees who meet the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determination

• GS‑11 appointment requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level in health‑care or related social‑work settings (VA or non‑VA) and state licensure at the independent‑practice level.
• A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required one year of professional experience in a clinical setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals and coordinate services.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for individuals from diverse socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
• Knowledge of medical and mental‑health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology to formulate treatment plans.
• Skill in independently implementing various treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups experiencing psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
• Ability to provide consultation to new social workers, graduate students, and other staff regarding patients’ psychosocial needs and the impact on health‑care compliance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and community‑agency representatives.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with people from varied backgrounds.
• Basic computer software proficiency for drafting documents, data management, and learning VHA‑specific applications.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services.

Work Schedule

8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday‑Friday (weekends/holidays not required).

Pay

Competitive salary with regular salary increases. A higher step rate within the appropriate grade may be awarded after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special VA needs (above the minimum rate of the grade).

Benefits

• Paid time off: 37–50 days annually (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays). Credit toward annual leave may be granted based on 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, 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: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage (many programs portable into retirement).
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Recruitment/relocation incentives and sign‑on bonus: Not authorized.