Social Worker

Quick Facts

• Role: Social Worker (assigned to Primary Care Teams/PACT)

• Focus: Adult Veterans; psychosocial assessments, crisis response, and behavioral health support

• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm

Description

The Social Worker provides social work services to adult Veterans receiving care through Primary Care Teams (PACT), including open-access support and timely response to psychosocial crises. The position includes independent psychosocial assessments, lethality and suicide risk evaluation, mental status exams, treatment planning, and psychotherapeutic interventions. The Social Worker coordinates with an interdisciplinary team and connects Veterans and families to appropriate VA and community resources.

Responsibilities

• Identify presenting problems, psychosocial factors, and obstacles to treatment

• Conduct thorough psychosocial assessments to support mental health diagnosis and psychosocial functioning/needs

• Evaluate lethality and perform mental status exams (MSE)

• Assess and intervene for suspected abuse; provide counseling/psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups

• Independently conduct suicide risk assessments for high-risk patients using approved tools (including CSRE) and support safety planning

• Coordinate social work case management with the interdisciplinary treatment team

• Act as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and families

• Facilitate community placements and referrals (e.g., contract nursing homes, Community Living Centers, residential care, inpatient/outpatient hospice)

• Provide education and consultation on community resources, VA benefits/specialty programs, and advance directives

• Consult with treatment team/staff on psychosocial needs and how they affect care planning and adherence

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program

• State licensure/certification for independent practice at the master’s level

• At least one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 for GS-11 appointment

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Pass pre-employment medical evaluation

• Seasonal influenza vaccination participation required

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases

• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and paid Federal holidays)

• Paid parental leave after 12 months of employment (up to 12 weeks)

• Child care subsidy eligibility after 60 days for eligible full-time employees (income-based)

• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions

• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options