Senior Social Worker Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

VA Careers - Social Work: Senior Social Worker (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program - BHIP) serves as an advanced practice clinician within the Kansas City VA Medical Centers Mental Health Clinic. The incumbent provides independent specialized and evidence-based mental health services to Veterans experiencing a wide range of psychosocial medical and psychiatric conditions. The BHIP Senior Social Worker delivers comprehensive clinical treatment conducts biopsychosocial assessments develops individualized treatment plans and coordinates care across interdisciplinary teams. The position requires advanced expertise in psychotherapy modalities crisis intervention trauma-informed care and specialty mental health services including treatment of high-risk and serious mental illness populations. The incumbent provides consultation clinical supervision and contributes to program development innovation and evaluation.

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides independent advanced-practice mental health and psychosocial services to Veterans enrolled in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) using evidence-based treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interpersonal Therapy for Depression Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other clinically privileged interventions.
• Conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments including DSM-5 diagnostic evaluations identification of presenting problems strengths and limitations internal/external supports and trauma-informed analysis of Veterans mental health needs.
• Develops individualized treatment plans with measurable time-limited goals in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams including Psychiatry Substance Use Disorder Treatment Team Transition Care Management Homeless Programs Whole Health Chaplaincy and Vet Centers; updates plans annually or as clinically indicated.
• Provides individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities; delivers psychoeducation to Veterans and families on coping strategies for chronic and disabling mental illnesses; utilizes assessment tools to measure treatment effectiveness and modify interventions accordingly.
• Offers specialized consultation to interdisciplinary colleagues and trainees regarding psychosocial treatment advanced clinical interventions and best practices for Veterans with complex or high-risk conditions; serves as a role model for effective social work practice.
• Provides clinical supervision to Social Work staff MSW interns and less experienced clinicians; delivers orientation and education seminars; contributes to the development of innovative therapeutic interventions and models of care.
• Delivers crisis intervention services including rapid assessments development of crisis management and safety plans and determination of need for intensive outpatient or inpatient services; ensures appropriate response during psychiatric or medical emergencies.
• Facilitates referrals to VA and community-based services; serves as a subject matter expert in resource linkage and program navigation; educates Veterans and caregivers on available supports and benefits.
• Provides advocacy for Veterans and families interpreting and explaining benefit programs treatment options and facilitating Veteran empowerment through independent self-advocacy when feasible.
• Utilizes telehealth modalities to deliver psychotherapy and clinical services; performs basic troubleshooting; ensures Veteran consent and adherence to patient safety and privacy standards during virtual care; trains less experienced staff in telehealth processes.
• Completes all required documentation in CPRS including assessments diagnostics treatment plans progress notes follow-up and referrals; manages complex consults using advanced practice clinical judgment.
• Participates in performance improvement processes professional peer review research clinical committees and program evaluation; contributes to policy procedure and practice guideline development for specialized mental health services.
• Provides collaborative care across mental health medical and community systems; maintains effective working relationships with VA employees volunteers Veterans families and external agencies; attends required staff meetings and interdisciplinary treatment team meetings.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.

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: 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.
• 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 SW Licensure by State
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).