Social Worker

Veterans Health Administration; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a social worker to join the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) within an interdisciplinary primary care setting. You will perform psychosocial assessments, manage cases, and provide clinical social work services to Veterans and their families.

Requirements include a CSWE-accredited MSW, state licensure or certification, U.S. citizenship, and strong English communication skills. The role emphasizes collaboration with healthcare teams and community referrals.

Qualifications

• Must have MSW from CSWE-accredited program.
• Must be licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the MSW level; licensure required for GS-11+.
• U.S. Citizenship; Veterans preference considerations as applicable.
• English language proficiency in spoken and written form.
• Active pursuit of state licensure prerequisites with timelines communicated by supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychosocial assessment, case management, and clinical social work services to Veterans and their families.
• Function as part of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) within primary care.
• Coordinate referrals to community resources and other governmental services as needed.

Skills

Veteran centric approach

Psychosocial assessment

Case management

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in social work (MSW)

Doctoral degree in social work (optional for GS-11)

Job description

The Social Worker assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) functions as a member of the interdisciplinary primary care team, providing psychosocial assessment, case management, and clinical social work services to Veterans and their families.

Basic Requirements

Basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following:

• 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 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/.
  • Exception. 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.
  • Failure 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.
• 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).

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).

Preferred Experience:

Mental health experience, LSW or LCSW. Experience with the geriatric population (educational experience; work experience within geriatric setting such as hospital, skilled nursing facility, memory care center), specialty area of study, trainings on older adults.

Grade Determinations

Social Worker, GS-9

(1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• (b) 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.
• (c) 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.
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• (e) 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.

Social Worker, GS-11

(1) 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

(2) 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.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• (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.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

Limited travels throughout the VA Medical Center and the Veteran's Multi-Service Center are required, such as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files.