The Senior Social Worker provides clinical psychosocial and evidence-based therapies to eligible Veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs. The incumbent provides specialized treatment for Veterans who have experienced trauma which includes Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and provides trauma informed therapies in both group and individual settings (virtually and in person).
The position requires interaction with the patient, family, significant others, community agencies, and other staff. The social worker works in close collaboration with the Women's Health Coordinator to develop and provide services that are especially helpful for women Veterans and their health needs.
Interview Clients and Conduct Psychosocial Assessments
- Interview Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's function and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment.
- Assess high risk factors, acuity, and need for services.
- Serve Veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, be poor at self-monitoring, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support.
Make Psychosocial Diagnoses - Evaluate the client's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to cope with his/her life stressors and arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Based on the psychosocial assessment, use professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.
- Assess at-risk factors and develop a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran and family or significant others.
- Make independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action.
Plan Effective Treatment - Develop psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, including goals for psychosocial clinical treatment.
- Independently conclude the appropriate action, even in instances where actions can have serious impact on the life of the Veteran. This might include long-term institutional or nursing home care or separation from family members. These decisions are based on advanced practice skills, professional judgment and the expertise regarding the Veteran's self-care capability, the family support system, the Veteran's health care needs, and possible consequences.
- Adjust the psychosocial treatment plan and interventions based on changing needs and response to interventions.
- Consult with other specialists in planning treatment for Veterans and with co-morbidities.
Implement Treatment - Provide clinical services to Veterans and family members/significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment.
- Provide individual and group therapy to patients and their families, on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in activities and/or discussion designed to improve patients' cognitive, social, emotional, vocational and/or behavioral functioning.
- Employ Social Work methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the Veteran work toward the best way of dealing with his/her problems.
Evaluate, Educate, Supervise, Coach, and Mentor - Establish a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluate progress towards goals and adjust the treatment plan as appropriate.
- Devise methods of obtaining data and evaluate data to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Identify consistent qualities of successful treatment and of failed treatment.
- Serve as a mentor to other Social Workers, particularly those at the entry level.
- Provide clinical supervision for unlicensed Social Workers and for Social Work associates.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work:
vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact
VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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).
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.
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.
Telework: Ad-hoc.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Starting at $104,165 Per Year (GS 12)