Social Worker Rural Access Network Growth Enhancement (Range)

The incumbent functions as a case manager for veterans in the Rural Access Network Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program. The incumbent delivers psychosocial services to veterans and their families in rural and underserved areas facilitating access to care and enhancing resources to meet their needs. The RANGE social worker will function as part of a multidisciplinary team providing assessment treatment planning intervention and follow-up. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating Veterans who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical and psychosocial problems. Direct contacts are provided to Veterans and their families in the home and frequency may increase during times of crisis. Social work case management and practice which includes psychosocial assessment diagnosis and treatment is focused on helping Veterans and their families maximize their potential to maintain independent living.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Has ahigh level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the RANGE Program and their families. The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical psychiatric emotional behavioral and psychosocial problems.
• Independently completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veterans maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of an individualized resident -centered treatment plan that focuses on strengthening a Veteran s ability to address acute and chronic problems that have resulted in past history of readmissions to the medical center.
• Possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures including acute chronic and traumatic illnesses common medications and their effects/side effects and medical terminology.
• Facilitates continuity of care by collaborating and providing consultation with the referring interdisciplinary treatment team to promote appropriate treatment and rehabilitation in discharge planning.
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities to provide social skills training to provide patient education and to provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families.
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources VA benefits and specialty programs and advance directives.
• Maintains knowledge of Veteran s benefits and services community resources and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information refer to Required Documents below.
• 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.
• Must posses a valid drivers license.
• 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 Requirement: 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 Requirement: 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 VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment the supervisor chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.

• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent masters level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above the applicants resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.
  • Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans their family members caregivers and survivors.
  • Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the Veterans problems strengths weaknesses coping skills and assistance needed.
  • Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals families and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients staff and representatives of community agencies.
  • Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities and treatment procedures. This includes acute chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

• 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 non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. 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 the applicants resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.
  • Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and ability to coordinate services.
  • Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic educational and other backgrounds.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.