Senior Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Gainesville, FL is seeking a Senior Social Worker in the Substance Use Disorder program to deliver psychosocial assessments, diagnoses and therapy to Veterans with complex needs.

The role emphasizes care within the Mental Health Clinic, coordination with the Substance Abuse Treatment Team, and supervision of staff. Experience with MAT, PTSD, and comorbidity management is preferred.

Qualifications

• US citizen; English proficiency required.
• Master's in Social Work from CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified social worker at the master's level.
• GS-12 requires 2 years post-advanced practice experience.

Responsibilities

• Outpatient Senior SUD Social Worker in Mental Health Clinic – Gainesville, FL.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and diagnoses.
• Provide individual and group therapies (face-to-face/telehealth).
• Coordinate outreach, treatment planning, and referrals within SATT.
• Supervise and mentor other staff; support licensure/certification.
• Apply knowledge of MAT, PTSD, homelessness and comorbid conditions.

Skills

Advanced social work practice

Psychosocial assessment

Individual & group therapy

Telehealth

Education

Master's in Social Work (CSWE accredited)

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 09/30/2026

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Must be US Citizen
• 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: Have a 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 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 master's degree in social work
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation 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 master's degree level
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• GS-12 Senior Social Worker candidates must have the following: Experience/Education: Must have at least two (2) years of experience POST advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice
• Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty
• AND Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Advanced License must be submitted with application
• While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills - Abilities - and Other Characteristics (KSAOs) - you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training listed below
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• If selected - you may be required to submit narrative responses then
• These are the KSA's for this subject position and grade level: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• References: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G39 - Senior Social Worker Qualification Standard - dated 9/10/19
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically - mentally - and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned
• A pre-placement physical examination is required for all full-time - part-time and intermittent employees identified by VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• The pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment to determine the physical and mental fitness for candidates for appointment in VA
• The examination will be concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and will include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies
• The work is primarily sedentary - but may require some walking - bending - stooping - standing - stretching - and carrying objects
• The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers
• moderate walking and standing
• near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• hearing aid permitted
• clear speech
• emotional stability
• moderate duty.

Duties

• The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Senior Social Worker works in the Mental Health Clinic - SUD section - is located at Gainesville - FL
• This position will provides outreach - coordination and treatment services to Veterans with highly complex substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health problems in the North Florida/South Georgia catchment area
• The Senior SUD Social Worker conducts psychosocial assessments - makes diagnoses and provides individual and group therapies using both face-to-face and telehealth encounters
• The Senior SUD Social Worker reports to the Supervisory Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) and provides administrative support to the SUD Clinical Program via outreach coordination responsibilities to ensure the broadest possible population coverage
• As Senior SUD Social Worker - the incumbent has experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and training in provision of substance use disorder evaluation and treatment and evidence-based psychotherapies
• To provide this care - the Senior SUD Social Worker - will demonstrate specialized knowledge of Medication Assisted Treatment - PTSD - homelessness - and undertreated medical conditions that impact Veterans with substance use disorders
• Major duties of the Senior Social Worker SUD include - but are not limited to: Conducts psychosocial assessments - makes diagnoses and provides individual and group therapies using both face-to-face and telehealth encounters
• Reports to the Supervisory Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) and provides administrative support to the SUD Clinical Program via outreach coordination responsibilities to ensure the broadest possible population coverage
• Demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and training in provision of substance use disorder evaluation and treatment and evidence-based psychotherapies
• Responsible for the day-to-day collaborations with other clinical professionals and will have an extensive knowledge of Veterans' community programs and resources
• Keeps up to date on new issues - trends - and treatment techniques pertinent to social work practice in mental health/substance use disorders and is familiar with social work community practice standards
• Works closely with the SATT Supervisor on programming issues and coordinates assessments - treatment - and referral services provided to Veterans in the North Florida/South Georgia catchment area
• Assists with the clinical supervision of unlicensed and multi-disciplinary staff - which may include Addiction Therapists - Peer Specialists - RN's and other program and support staff
• Provides individual - group - and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with substance use disorders
• provides services on an outpatient basis but may interact and coordinate with inpatient treatment team members across a continuum of care
• Offers consultation to colleagues and students of all disciplines and of various clinics on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans with substance use disorders - rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications
• Preferred experience: Substance abuse counseling/case management
• Certification in substance use disorders is desired - but not required
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 55764F EDRP Authorized: May be authorized to highly qualified candidates
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Additional Benefits Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional