Senior Social Worker (Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services)

This Senior Social Worker role is in VHA VISN 7 at the VA Augusta Health Care System within Social Work Service. The non-supervisory position reports to Social Work leadership and functions independently at the advanced license level, providing psychosocial and case management services to Veterans and their families to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs.

Work in a high-stress environment, possibly in austere conditions or an emergency setting Treat or provide direct patient care within the requirements of practice/privileges/licensure Ensure qualifications and required certifications are maintained, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification The Senior Social Worker must demonstrate advanced practice skills and sound judgment, particularly in crisis intervention and interdisciplinary teamwork. They will provide short-term, solution-focused counseling to individuals and families in crisis, along with education, resource referrals, case management, and follow-up support. Provides psychosocial treatment; Independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members. Formulates and implements a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment team. Independently provides a full range of assessment and evaluation services appropriate to the care setting. Works with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision-making capacity regarding health care; Develops treatment plans to address the needs of patients. Creates plans of action to ensuring assessment and crisis intervention services are maximized based on circumstances and availability of resources. Conducts crisis intervention strategies, including assessment and diagnosis. Conducts outreach to vulnerable populations, including disadvantaged areas. Identifies impacted Veterans and connect them with VA and community resources. Assists with locating family members and loved ones. Assists with contacting hospitals or other relevant locations to locate medical records or emergency documentation Provide subject matter expertise in all phases of disaster response plans, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program( EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your 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 review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. 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. Functional Statement #: 61939F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.