Senior Social Worker- PCMHI

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Childcare subsidy

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a Senior Social Worker in Anchorage, Alaska, to provide mental health services, including assessments and interventions. This role requires advanced practice skills and U.S. citizenship, as well as a master's degree in social work.

Offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including paid time off and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Must possess a master's degree in social work from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional assessments and consultative services in mental health.
• Conduct triage and referrals to specialty care services.
• Document patient goals and interventions in medical records.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Advanced Practice Skills

Psychosocial Assessment

Clinical Supervision

Leadership and Mentoring

Education

Master’s degree in social work

Licensure to practice social work

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for EDRP – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit the EDRP application within four months of the start date. Approval (award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period 1–5 years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review.

Qualifications

NOTE: The 2‑page resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• English Language Proficiency – candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education – master’s degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for a master’s degree.
• Verification of the degree can be made by visiting http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation.
• Licensure – persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS‑0185 series must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• Current state requirements can be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• Loss of licensure or certification – once licensed or certified, a social worker must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS‑0185 series and may result in termination.
• Grade determinations – senior social worker GS‑12. Experience and education: at least two years of experience post‑advanced practice clinical licensure, with one year equivalent to a GS‑11 grade level.
• Senior social workers have advanced practice skills and judgment, expertise in a specialized area, and may hold national certification or post‑master training.
• Senior social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Candidate must demonstrate skills, knowledge, and abilities in specialized interventions, treatment modalities, individual/group/family counseling, advanced psychosocial and case management, complex differential diagnosis, outcome evaluation, consultation, policy writing, and system improvement.
• Assignments above full performance level require significant scope, complexity, and variety performed at least 25% of the time.
• Typical assignments include major program areas such as polytrauma, spinal cord injury, PTSD, transplant, or equivalent national referral centers.
• Senior social workers may have administrative responsibility for clinical program development and be accountable for program effectiveness.
• Assignments include clinic settings with limited supervision such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics.
• Senior social workers collaborate with treatment teams, provide leadership, orientation, coaching, in‑service training, staff development, and continuing education.
• They serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at facility, VISN, or national levels as directed.
• Reference: For more information on qualification standards visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• The actual grade for selection is GS‑12.
• Physical requirements – none per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated 4/17/2026.

Duties

• Provide functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, education, and consultative services for mental health and behavioral medicine concerns referred by primary care providers and allied PACT members.
• Use population‑based practice management strategies and maintain competence in core domains.
• Conduct functional assessments (30‑minute appointments) and triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate.
• Use contemporary interview and psychometric assessment methods for mental disorders or behavioral health conditions.
• Provide evidence‑based psychotherapeutic interventions and behavioral medicine interventions—including individual, family, group psychotherapy, and psychoeducation.
• Develop comprehensive treatment plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members, documenting patient goals, measurable objectives, and interventions.
• Provide psychological assessment, triage, intervention, education, and consultative services.
• Document independently in medical records using paper or electronic formats.
• Routinely consult with PCPs and other PACT team members about plan of care.
• Integrate within the primary care team and attend daily meetings and huddles.
• Provide same‑day referrals and warm hand‑offs, and educate PACT on mental health issues.
• Serve as a mentor to entry‑level psychologist colleagues.
• Be viewed as a senior clinician with advanced practice skills and expertise.
• Provide clinical supervision to unlicensed psychologists or trainees at practicum or internship level.
• Participate in the Psychology Training Committee.

Pay and Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; higher step rate available for higher or unique qualifications.
• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Parental leave: after 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid leave for birth, adoption, or foster placement.
• Childcare subsidy: after 60 days, full‑time employees with family income below $144,000 may receive up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to $416.66 per month.
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Insurance: traditional federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care.
• Telework: not available.
• Virtual: this is not a virtual position.
• Functional statement number: 000000 (permanent).
• Recruitment incentive: sign‑on bonus may be authorized.
• Relocation assistance: not authorized.
• EDRP authorized for new participants; former participants are ineligible.
• Contact [e-mail] for EDRP questions.