Social Worker (Psychotherapist)

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Veterans Health Administration (VHA) – VA Mid‑Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) – Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) at the Western Branch VA Clinic. The Mental Health Clinic Social Worker provides a full range of mental health clinical services to veterans enrolled in the Mental Health Clinic (MHC).

Basic Requirements

• Citizenship: United States citizenship required; non‑citizens may be appointed only when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• 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 cannot substitute for the master’s degree.
• Verification: Degree accreditation can be verified 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.
• Current state requirements are available at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• Exception (GS‑9 only): VHA may waive the licensure requirement for candidates who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations.
• For GS‑11 and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified at the time of appointment.
• Unlicensed/uncertified appointees at GS‑9 must obtain independent‑practice licensure within three years (or within one year after meeting full state prerequisites in states with longer requirements, e.g., California, Washington).
• Unlicensed social workers must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who has access to the electronic health record.
• Licensure examinations are administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); information at https://www.aswb.org/.
• Grandfathering provision may apply to current VHA employees who meet the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Grade Determinations

• GS‑9: Requires only the basic requirements listed above. No additional experience, education, or licensure beyond the basics.
• GS‑11: Requires a minimum of one year of post‑MSW experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level in health‑care or other social‑work‑related settings (VA or non‑VA) and licensure or certification at the independent‑practice level. A doctoral degree in social work may substitute for the required one year of professional experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to utilize a veteran‑centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.
• Ability to assess psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and families, formulate and implement treatment plans, and identify problems, strengths, coping skills, and assistance needed.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities (supportive, problem‑solving, crisis intervention) with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and community agency representatives.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental‑health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures (including acute, chronic, and traumatic conditions), common medications and their side effects, and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of community resources, referral processes, and coordination of services with governmental and community agencies.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions for diverse populations.
• Ability to provide consultation and education to veterans, families, new social workers, graduate students, and other staff regarding psychosocial needs, community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advanced directives.
• Ability to provide case‑management services throughout the continuum of care and to apply principles of human growth and development across the lifespan.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with people from varied backgrounds.
• Willingness to serve on committees, work groups, and task forces as appropriate.
• Capability to assist in orientation and learning of less‑experienced social workers and to serve as a preceptor for social‑work students, if interested.
• Proficiency with software applications for document drafting, data management, and other VHA computer systems.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 – Employee Occupational Health Services for detailed physical requirements.

Duties

• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families in the Mental Health Center.
• Work with veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.
• Complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine functioning and needs.
• Utilize assessments to facilitate veterans’ maximum use of treatment for optimal independence.
• Participate as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating on resident‑centered treatment plans.
• Apply knowledge of medical and mental‑health diagnoses, disabilities, treatment procedures, and medication effects.
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy for cases identified as benefiting from such services, using evidence‑based practices.
• Serve as a liaison between veterans/families and VA or community resources, coordinating involvement in treatment planning.
• Independently implement treatment modalities, counseling, and supportive groups for veterans and families.
• Provide consultation and education to veterans/families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advanced directives.
• Offer consultation to other treatment team members regarding psychosocial needs and impact on health‑care planning and compliance.
• Provide case‑management services throughout the continuum of care.
• Assist veterans in coping with loss and grief related to disability or terminal illness, applying lifespan development principles.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication with diverse populations.
• Participate in committees, work groups, and task forces as directed.
• Assist in orientation and learning of less‑experienced social workers; serve as a preceptor for social‑work students if interested.
• Utilize software applications for document drafting, data management, and other VHA systems.

Work Schedule

8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives

Sign‑on bonus: Not authorized.