Social Worker, Mental Health

The Social Worker uses their skills in assessing and treating psychosocial problems of Veterans and their families/significant others. The Social Worker will provide care coordination and psychosocial services to Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Veterans. The incumbent independently works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing social work clinical skills within the bounds of his/her privileges.

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families.
• Works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems.
• Applies knowledge of the PACT team approach and the role of each health and allied health care team members, including the role of the social worker in the PACT model.
• Assures timely, appropriate, and patient-centered care is provided during each stage of care and facilitates transitions across VHA facilities and with community providers.
• Utilizes a Whole Health Patient-Centered approach with the goal of empowering and equipping the Veteran to direct their own health and well-being and to live their life to the fullest.
• Assists the veteran in the development of goals connecting to what is most important to the Veteran and works with veteran on self-empowerment, self-healing, and self-care that addresses social determinants of health.
• Completes comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Facilitates the Veteran’s maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable.
• Assesses for signs, symptoms, and behaviors of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence when providing services to Veterans and caregivers and serves as a consultant regarding abuse, neglect, exploitation, and intimate partner violence to multidisciplinary team members.
• Actively participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with Veterans and family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventions. Treatment plans include measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veteran’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
• Bases decisions on social work 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.
• Assists and encourages Veterans and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation realistically, considering alternative courses of action, and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems.
• Utilizes working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, substance abuse disorders, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 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

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 401(k) 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 #: 53865-F; 53866-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized