Social Worker (Open Until Filled)

Indian Health Service; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 64,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service seeks a Social Worker to deliver professional social work services to American Indian communities. You will conduct clinical assessments, provide psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and care coordination within an interdisciplinary team.

This federal vacancy requires a master's in social work and an active social work license; commitment to culturally responsive care and rigorous credentialing is essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
• Current, active independent clinical social work license (LCSW or equivalent) required.
• Experience conducting psychosocial assessments and providing therapy is expected.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent psychosocial assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups.
• Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and interdisciplinary behavioral health consultation.
• Provide clinical case management, care coordination, and referrals to support continuity of patient care.
• Develop, implement, and modify individualized treatment plans based on clinical assessment and patient response.
• Collaborate with medical providers, behavioral health clinicians, tribal programs, and community resources to ensure integrated, culturally responsive care.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Psychotherapy

Crisis intervention

Care coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Cultural responsiveness

Education

Master's degree in social work

LCSW license (or equivalent)

Job description

Summary

Make a difference where it matters most! Join the Indian Health Service as a Social Worker providing professional social work services to American Indian communities. Advance your career, enjoy competitive benefits, and be part of a mission that transforms lives every day.

This announcement is open until the vacancy is filled. It may be extended or closed prior to the closing date.

A REAL ID will be required

Beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Duties

Total Compensation Package

Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Social Worker Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

• Conduct independent clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups.
• Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and interdisciplinary behavioral health consultation.
• Provide clinical case management, care coordination, and referrals to support continuity of patient care.
• Develop, implement, and modify individualized treatment plans based on clinical assessment, patient response, and evolving psychosocial conditions.
• Collaborate with medical providers, behavioral health clinicians, tribal programs, and community resources to ensure integrated, culturally responsive, and continuous patient care.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period

U.S. Citizenship is required

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Selectees must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy. Exemptions may be available in accordance with agency policy.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement: Successful completion of a federal background investigation is required as a condition of employment. Applicants must complete all required forms within five (5) calendar days of receiving instructions. Failure to do so may delay processing or result in a determination of unsuitability. Applicants should maintain communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement: This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying. Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

Basic Requirement(s)

Education: Master's degree, or higher doctoral degree, in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work education. To verify your education, please list your education on your resume or submit unofficial transcripts.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

Minimum Qualifications

GS-11: Applicant(s) must meet one of the following minimum qualification requirements:

• Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Conducting comprehensive psychosocial or behavioral health assessments; Developing and implementing individualized treatment plans; Providing therapeutic counseling or psychotherapy to individuals, families, or groups; Conducting crisis intervention, suicide or violence risk assessments, and safety planning; Collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to coordinate patient care.
• OR Education: Successfully completed three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree.
• OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

In addition, to the Minimum Qualifications, you must also meet the Selective Placement Factor stated below.

Selective Placement Factor

Must possess a current, active, unrestricted independent clinical social work license (e.g., Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), or equivalent) issued by a State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory that authorizes diagnosis and treatment without supervision.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement. If you are substituting education for experience: You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

OPEN UNTIL FILLED: Applications received within the first 10 business days will receive initial consideration. Applications will be reviewed every two weeks thereafter, as needed. Locations may be removed as vacancies are filled, and the announcement may close once all vacancies are filled.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you have a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, that may interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you may request an RA in your online application. Your request and supporting documentation must be received before you begin the assessments. RA requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified of the RA decision and receive an email invitation to complete the assessments, as applicable. If the assessment link is received after the announcement closes, you must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving that link. For additional information, see Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

This position may be covered by a Bargaining Unit.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 1-year service agreement will be required.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) And National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Have Student Loan Repayment Programs For Qualifying Health Disciplines. This Is a Competitive Process Separate From The Hiring Process. Opportunities For LRP Are Based On Agency Hiring Priorities And Availability Of Funds. For Additional Information Please Visit

For IHS - https://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/

For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/

You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.

• How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
• In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
• In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation.
• How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?
• Your responses are optional and will not be scored.
• However, they may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership (or designees) during the evaluation process.
• You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Review our benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.