Social Worker (Residential Care Section Program)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Parental Leave

Child Care Subsidy

Retirement Plan

Telework: Not Available

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Social Worker for its Residential Care Section in Albuquerque. The role emphasizes psychosocial assessments, case management, discharge planning, and coordinating services for Veterans and families.

Requirements include an MSW (CSWE-accredited), state licensure at independent practice level, and English proficiency. The workweek is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, with comprehensive federal benefits.

Qualifications

• MSW from CSWE-accredited program is required.
• Licensure as a social worker at independent practice level.
• English proficiency for written and spoken language.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement screening and psychosocial assessments for Veterans admitted to Residential Care.
• Provide case management to reduce housing instability and related risks.
• Coordinate discharge planning and referrals to maintain post-residential functioning.
• Deliver treatment using individual, family, and group modalities.

Skills

Counseling skills

Crisis intervention

Interprofessional collaboration

Assessment and treatment planning

Communication

Education

Master's in Social Work (CSWE-accredited)

Job description

Summary

The SW duties and responsibilities described herein reflect the requirements associated with providing care to Veterans enrolled in the Residential Care Section. The Residential Care Section is designed to assist Veterans who have multiple and disabling psychosocial problems (to include homelessness - poverty - health concerns - substance use disorders - psychiatric disorders - and/or unemployment) to begin their recovery and make a successful transition into a stable living environment.

Qualifications

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 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/
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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 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
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• 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
• 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standards - GS-185 - Veterans Health Administration
• 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-9 to GS-11.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Develops and implements screening and psychosocial assessments for the Veterans who are requesting admission and/or have been admitted to Residential Care
• Provides special attention to veterans who have been referred through more intensive services within the residential continuum of care and who need specialized case management in order to reduce the risk of a return to inadequate housing - financial instability - resource insufficiency and lack of productive - life-enhancing community activity
• Evaluates treatment assignments to determine progress and/or the need to revise/adjust goals that are established with the patient as a component of his/her treatment plan
• Coordinates discharge planning - initiates appropriate placements and referrals that are critical to maintaining and preserving stable post-residential care functioning
• Focuses particularly on those problems and issues which - if unattended - would likely result in deterioration of the patient and rehospitalization or return to inadequate housing and/or unemployment
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized