Supervisory Social Worker (PACT)

VA Careers - Social Work: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Supervisory Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Social Worker selected for this position must have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment especially in crisis intervention and working with an interdisciplinary team. They will be using short-term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis as well as providing education and referral for resources and benefits case management and post-intervention follow-up. The Supervisory PACT Social Worker assesses for psychosocial problems often at a time when the veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of short-term solution-focused counseling with veterans and/or their family members/significant others. Referrals typically originate from members of the interdisciplinary team from veterans and/or their family members/significant others coming as walk-ins to seek assistance and from community professionals.

• Must independently complete thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
• Able to assess functional acuity of the patient and provide appropriate interventions and use this assessment to help facilitate the Veterans maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence.
• Must have an advanced level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and family members/caregivers in the Primary Care Clinic.
• Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions.
• Must possess knowledge and ability at the advance practice level to independently implement treatment modalities and evidence-based practices provide educational classes and supportive groups for Veterans and families including shared medical appointments; must also be able to use and teach Veterans in the effective use of My Health eVet (MHV) system.
• Must possess supervisory skills that will provide necessary administrative technical and clinical supervision needed to accomplish the work of the organizational unit such as:
  • Setting priorities and making assignments according to the capabilities of employees;
  • Setting performance standards and reviews work to determine acceptable levels of quality and quantity;
  • Reporting workload data to the Chief and Assistant Chief of Social Work Services
  • Observing employee performance and offers instruction technical advice or counseling related to clinical and administrative issues
  • Provides information feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance
  • Develops work improvement plans and recommending necessary corrective personnel actions

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: Must have a masters degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. A copy of transcripts must be submitted with your application package to verify that you meet the education requirements unless you are qualifying under the Granfathering Provision.

Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified social workers must maintain a full valid and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

1. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply:
2. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification 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 journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
5. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

• Ability to independently organize work set priorities and meet multiple deadlines.
• Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision consultation negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services.
• Ability to provide staff training and development.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees team leaders and managers.