Social Worker

Social Worker

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in White River Junction, Vermont, United States

Job Description

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more Responsibilities The purpose of this position is to serve as a Social Worker at a VA Medical Center, White River Junction campus. The Social Worker in this position provides direct services to Veterans in outpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment settings through high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and linkage with appropriate VA and community service providers agencies as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with the other members of the Mental Health and Homeless care team. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Implements treatment modalities. Provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran, their families and caregiver and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Offers psychosocial interventions, at times in the community, and measures outcomes to interventions. Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Provides customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. VA Careers - Social Work: youtubeembedenRhz\ua\UU Social Work: vacareers.va.govwp-contentuploadssites5Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: A variety of work schedules are available; Work schedule will be determined upon selection. CompressedFlexible: Available at Managers Discretion. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Hannah Neilson at Hannah.Neilsonva.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questionsassistance. Learn more. RelocationRecruitment Incentives: Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 healthvisiondentalterm lifelong-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: These positions are AFGE Bargaining Unit. This position is covered by a locality-based rate. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Travel and relocation expenses are not authorized. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. This position is in the Excepted Service. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12311959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to backgroundsecurity investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (uscis.govi-9-centralform-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certificationlicensure 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Licensure or Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensurecertification 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 unlicenseduncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including

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