Social Worker

This position is approved for the Education Debt Reduction Program (ERDP) which will pay up to $200000 in qualifying student loans over a term of five years!

This position is located at the Williamsport PA VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The Social Worker in this position in Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine Service is responsible for the provision of case management individual and group therapy clinical treatment crisis intervention advocacy discharge planning and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with members of their inpatient mental health treatment teams and other interdisciplinary treatment team members as appropriate.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Social Worker will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team the veteran and family members/significant others whenever possible
• Responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran family members/significant others and other WBVAMC clinical staff
• Responsible for delivery of psychotherapy interventions within the outpatient behavioral health clinic to include evaluation treatment plan mental health crisis intervention progress and recovery oriented discharges
• Delivery of evidence/measurement based services with successful completion of VA or Community Psychotherapy Certified Trainings
• Throughout the course of treatment the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• Responsible for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans
• Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/significant others
• Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis.
• Provides education related to VA and community resources entitlements Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans and families/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Responsible for the coordination of the referrals of non-institutional services such as HBPC ADHC/CADHC home hospice and skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members
• Provide the veterans and identified family with ongoing supportive counseling as directed by Veteran Preference
• Enter all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• Effectively communicates with and utilizes community agencies to facilitate treatment discharge planning and continuity of care
• The employees relationship with supervisors co-workers patients visitors and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature and overall contributes to the effective operation of the case management program
• Other related duties as assigned

• 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.
• 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.
• Language: Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3j.
• Education: You must 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.
• Licensure: You must have a current and active license or are certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level.

• Specialized Experience:
  • Experience or Education - You must possess 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). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths weaknesses coping skills and psychosocial acuity in collaboration with the patient family and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals.
  • OR
  • Possess a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work
• GS-11 Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the licensure and experience or education for the GS-11 level you must demonstrate the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities.
  • 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.