Social Worker

Major Duties:

• Professional social worker assigned to support Social Work Service programming. Incumbent must possess the knowledge of implementing treatment modalities; and how to do the following: 1) identify level of functioning degree of impairment in occupational social academic interpersonal and family area; 2) evaluate and assess lethality 3) perform mental status exams (MSE) 4) assess and intervene with patients of suspected abuse and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals families and groups.
• Determines the presenting problem psychosocial factors impacting the problem and obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments.
• Provides social work case management coordination with members of the treatment team to ensure a collaborative effort to meet the treatment goals for a Veteran.
• Acts as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families.
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families with proficiency.
• Works with Veterans and their families experiencing a wide range of complicated medical psychiatric emotional behavioral and psychosocial problems.
• Completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the mental health diagnosis psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Utilizes assessment in developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment plan for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.
• Uses demonstrated knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures which includes acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their side effects and medical terminology.
• Conducts psychosocial assessments of high-risk patients to identify suicidality through use of the Suicide Risk Assessment (CSRE) and other appropriate tools independently.
• Participates actively as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team through collaboration with Veterans and family in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions.
• Facilitates action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely manner.
• Communityplacements can involve but are not limited to referrals to contract nursing homes Community Living Centers residential care homes inpatient and outpatient hospice services.
• Implements psychotherapeutic treatment modalities provide educational classes and/or treatment and supportive groups for Veterans and families based on knowledge and ability.
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources VA benefits and specialty programs and advance directives which includes the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services information and referral for additional services from other VA programs other government programs and community programs.
• Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veterans health care planning and compliance with treatment.
• Must possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.
• Acts as a liaison between VA and community resources to include marketing and public relation duties as needed.
• PACT duties are typically carried out at the duty station with some execptions as determined by the chief of social work to ensure all Veterans receive appropriate care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am t0 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

• 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 medical 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Services.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Social Worker GS-11

Experience and Licensure. 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 nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.
NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.
OR
Education. 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services.
(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic educational and other backgrounds.
(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan.
(d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric

Preferred Experience: Experience working in an integrated primary care or medical setting. Background in brief solution focused and evidence based interventions suited for fast paced primary care environments. Experience conducting psychosocial assessments for Veterans with complex medical and behavioral health needs. Familiarity with chronic disease management health behavior change and motivational interviewing techniques Risk Assessment & Crisis Skills. Experience with suicide risk assessment safety planning and crisis intervention Interdisciplinary & Care Coordination Skills .Experience collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams (nurses PCPs pharmacists behavioral health providers). Skill in care coordination case management and assisting Veterans in navigating systems of care Population-Specific Knowledge. Knowledge of VA and community resources related to housing transportation mental health financial stressors and caregiver support. Experience supporting Veterans with co occurring conditions (PTSD depression substance use chronic pain). Documentation & EMR Skills Proficiency using electronic medical records preferably CPRS Group & Educational Interventions .Experience facilitating groups psychoeducation or health focused interventions (e.g. stress management coping skills)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices training rooms and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. The work is primarily sedentary although some physical effort may be required e.g. walking standing climbing ladders stooping kneeling and carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. Job entails the ability to have active listening reading observing and evaluating verbal and non verbal behavior; walking speaking writing clinical notes writing and reading policies and procedures using office equipment such as computers telephones fax machines copy machines and cell phones. Must be able to remain current in Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications and able to engage in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior or have a valid exemption. Occasional travel is required of the incumbent. Travel will be for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: national and regional conferences site visits to other facilities in the VISN (or the VISN offices) face-to-face meetings regarding national and regional projects/assignments specialized training for certain medical equipment and/or systems other training opportunities that may improve the incumbents ability to better serve the needs of the VA.