Social Worker

VA Careers - Social Work: include but are not limited to:

Services provided by the social worker include direct practice (individual group family couple and program development for target populations) multidisciplinary practice (treatment team collaboration consultation work groups and coordination) community practice (public relations resource development resource coordination) training (social work and multidisciplinary staff) research and student supervision. The social worker utilizes a variety of theories and models which are selected integrated and adapted to the given client biopsychosocial situation. All practice is subject to varying kinds and amounts of supervision depending on workers needs and new or specialized assignments. Community outreach as needed or more according to the program requirements. The social worker may be assigned anywhere in the continuum of care throughout NYHHS.

The social worker is an experienced professional cognizant of and conversant with a wide range of Social Work practice theories terminology and models of intervention. The social worker will demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care appropriate to the adult and geriatric patients served including the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify patient needs and to provide the care needed.

The social worker is a highly skilled interviewer able to apply such skills relevantly and appropriately to given situations with client groups and within the total system. Direct practice skills include consistency and independence in the effective integration of data gathering assessment ongoing assessment planning social work treatment (i.e. implementation of treatment plan) evaluation of treatment goals follow-up and program development.

Clinical recording reports statistical and other administrative reporting are in compliance with Community and Social Service and/or Medical Center or VHA time format and content standards The social worker assigned to program(s) for special emphasis populations such as the homeless VIST SCI SMI will gain knowledge through additional training that will provide skills knowledge and resources required for the performance of duties within these special emphasis programs. Worker is actively engaged in own learning and training needs and is expected to be fully prepared for supervisory conferences and committee work. Active participation at staff meetings is expected as well as in staff development activities as a participant and/or presenter. Taking an active role in collaboration through formal and informal conferences and/or team meetings with members of other disciplines is expected and is basic to the establishment of a sound understanding of the client plan and interaction. The social worker collaborates with other disciplines as indicated to evaluate design and implement programming that is consistently well-conceptualized and provides the basis for carrying out optimal resolutions of biopsychosocial problems within available resources.

The social worker relates to the Medical Center staff and/or community agencies within the context of the professional role and responsibility. Supervision or teaching of other staff or graduate trainees attests to the competence skill and maturity of the social student supervisory activities the social worker will confer with and be consulted by the Schools of Social Work (as defined in the training contract requirements) regarding the students progress. Referrals or consultations with other professionals or agencies in the community along with resource development and linkages are central to the coordination of the continuum of services provided the population being serviced. The social worker is expected to work with a wide range of client populations. The social worker is able to accommodate to changing demands in priorities and pressures demonstrating awareness in identifying and reporting problems as they arise. Values and ethics of the Social Work profession as well as NYHHS and VHA Standards or Codes of Behavior are applied and upheld in workers practice.

Work Schedule: Full-time M-F 8am to 4:30pm.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 0257-A/0258-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

• 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 examination or health assessment.
• 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: 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 to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• 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. 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).
• NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.
• Physical 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).

• (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 medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
• (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers social work graduate students and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.