Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

The Social Worker Program Coordinator is a member of a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team model and provides clinical social work services in outpatient mental health clinic setting. The incumbent plays an active role on this team which meets weekly to review and discuss clinical cases within the mental health clinic. The health care and psychosocial needs of this population are complex and require a high degree of independence case management clinical oversight and creative problem solving. The incumbent is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. The incumbent works in close collaboration with the outpatient mental health clinical nurse manager social work psychiatrists and psychologists to coordinate patient care.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments for veterans and families
• Participate actively in interdisciplinary treatment planning
• Provide individual family couples and group counseling/psychotherapy using evidence-based approaches as appropriate
• Develop and coordinate timely and appropriate discharge plans
• Provide education on community resources VA benefits and advance directives
• Serve as a consultant to team members and medical residents on social work practice
• Provide case management across the continuum of care including in ER/Urgent Care settings
• Act as liaison to community agencies; participate in outreach public relations and veteran education events
• Facilitate support groups and wellness/prevention education
• Supervise social work students or less experienced social workers when appropriate
• Participate in committees workgroups and quality improvement activities
• Maintain required data/statistical information to comply with JCAHO/TJC VA and medical center policies
• Provide grief and loss support for veterans and significant others
• Document interventions and ensure appropriate clinical handoff in CPRS
• Participate in the on-call rotation and adjust schedule including weekends to meet patient care needs
• Provide standard social work services including casework crisis intervention and psychotherapy
• Supervise MHTCs across NWI and other social workers as appropriate
• Develop and maintain MHTC program and functions across NWI Health Care System
• Provide care coordination to veterans presenting with complex multilayered presenting problems

• 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.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information refer to Required Documents below.
• 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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.)
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j this part.
• 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 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 Determinations:
  
  Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-12:
  • Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-masters degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.
  • Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Applicants must meet the requirements for providing supervision in the state where they are licensed at the advanced practice level and should list these qualifications within the assessment narrative and their resume. Documentation is required if part of your states requirements for providing supervision for licensure is beyond your licensure only (example: certification of continuing education credits).
  • Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (submission of a document with written demonstration of KSAs is highly recommended with application).
    • Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation negotiation and monitoring.
    • Knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and/or practice guidelines for the program.
    • Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
    • Skill in organizing work setting priorities meeting multiple deadlines and evaluating assigned program area(s).
    • Ability to provide training orientation and guidance within clinical practice.
  All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.
  
  Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
  Education

  IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
  
  Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges universities schools or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information visit:

  Additional information

  Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  
  During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
  
  This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  
  This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
  
  VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
  
  If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
  
  Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
  
  The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.