Social Worker - Inpatient Medical

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off (37–50 days annually)

Parental leave (up to 12 weeks)

Child care subsidy after 60 days

Traditional federal pension and 401(k)

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Fargo is recruiting for a full-time Social Worker to deliver essential social work services for veterans in inpatient medical/surgical units. This role requires a master's degree in social work and clinical licensure.

Responsibilities include conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments to ensure the well-being of veterans, collaborating with healthcare teams, and providing a veteran-centric care approach. This position offers competitive pay with up to 50 days of annual paid time off and a commitment to veterans' health needs.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Must possess minimum one year of post-MSW experience for GS-11.

Responsibilities

• Provide social work services to veterans in medical/surgical units.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments.
• Collaborate with healthcare team members on care plans.

Skills

Ability to utilize a veteran-centric approach

Ability to assess psychosocial functioning

Skill in implementing treatment modalities

Ability to establish effective working relationships

Knowledge of medical terminology

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work

Job description

Summary

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full‑time Social Worker to provide social work services to Veterans who receive care on the inpatient medical/surgical units.

Qualifications

Health Professional Trainee (HPT) 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.
• 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 is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master’s degree.
• 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 level.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Grade Determinations: GS‑9 Experience – Education – and Licensure.
• None beyond the basic requirements.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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 families and to formulate and implement a treatment plan identifying the veteran’s 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, requiring 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 community agency representatives; (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.

GS‑11 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.
• In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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 (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 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.
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
• This approach to healthcare empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well‑being and to live their lives to the fullest.
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will work in a model with three core elements—seeking to create a personalized health plan for each veteran in the context of healing relationships, healing environments, and connection back to the veteran’s community.
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well‑being.
• The incumbent provides social work services to veterans who receive care on the inpatient medical/surgical units at the Fargo VA Health Care System.
• The incumbent assesses patient social and psychological factors relative to their chronological development—complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments regarding patient, family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems.
• The assessments must reflect a high level of skill in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and documenting data that is pertinent and directly related to patient health care planning, treatment, education, and case management.
• Evaluates patients identified as "at risk" to determine need for psychosocial intervention as inpatients/outpatients.
• The incumbent understands the needs and complexities of the VHA health care delivery plan and works collaboratively with other team members, program areas, and other health care services.
• The incumbent is a resource for the Care in the Community/Transfer Coordinators.
• Social worker may provide consultative services to VA staff and community partners.
• May reach out to veterans/family members who have questions about Care in the Community, VA Services, VA Programs, and VA benefits.
• The incumbent will primarily provide services on the inpatient medical/surgical unit and may also provide coverage for the inpatient mental health unit.
• The incumbent may also provide cross coverage in other primary care areas.
• The incumbent has clinical involvement in patient care by providing clinical case consultation to patient, family, and community inquiries about services or patient care issues.
• The incumbent is accountable to the Primary Care Social Work Supervisor in carrying out operational functions described above.
• Duties include— but are not limited to: psychosocial assessment; clinical diagnosing using DSM‑5 and ICD‑10 behavior codes; treatment planning/goal setting; therapy referral to service providers; resource development; advocacy; crisis intervention; education/health promotion and prevention; supportive counseling; administrative responsibilities.
• Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus): not authorized.
• Permanent change of station (relocation assistance): not authorized.
• Pay: competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time offered 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.
• 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 401(k) 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).
• Telework: ad‑hoc only. Virtual: this is not a virtual position.
• Permanent change of station (PCS): not authorized.

Physical Requirements

You will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.