Social Worker Job at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland

Overview

The Social Worker is assigned to inpatient care teams, providing a range of social work services for Veterans admitted to medical, surgical, critical, and specialty care units. Services include psychosocial screening and assessment, discharge planning, care coordination, health education, advanced health care planning, and supportive counseling. The Social Worker collaborates with the Emergency Department, Patient Aligned Care Team, Inpatient Acute Care Teams, and other administrative and clinical departments.

Responsibilities

• Develop psychosocial assessments in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. Identify strengths, limitations, internal/external supports, and service needs to optimize functional status.
• Assess and plan for geriatric considerations, age-appropriate needs, and respect for diverse aging populations; apply current and advanced techniques in treatment of older Veterans.
• Develop discharge plans, treatment plans, and achievable goals with the Veteran and/or family/caregiver; update plans as patient condition or needs change.
• Serve as subject matter expert on VA and community resources; educate Veterans and caregivers about services and facilitate appropriate referrals based on preferences.
• Utilize VA and community social service resources, developing and enhancing the resource file to benefit Veterans.
• Advocate for Veterans and families when appropriate, encouraging empowerment and independence.
• Provide crisis intervention with rapid assessments and crisis management planning for admission to mental health inpatient programs; access diverse resources as needed.
• Deliver education on VA/community resources, entitlements, and advance directives; refer to interdisciplinary team members for identified health education needs.
• Provide ongoing, supportive counseling to Veterans and family/caregivers to address psychosocial impacts of acute, chronic, or disabling illness and catastrophic illness.
• Complete and document Veteran and family/caregiver contacts in the electronic health record using appropriate templates; maintain confidentiality and collaborate with VA staff. Attend interdisciplinary and social work meetings and participate in performance improvement processes as required.
• Adhere to work schedule (e.g., M-F 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm) and comply with program requirements (telework not available; on-site position).

Qualifications / Basic Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Doctoral degree may not substitute for the MSW.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level; current state licensure/certification required where applicable.
• English language proficiency (written and spoken).
• Subject to background/security investigation; may be required to complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, REAL ID-compliant identification is required where applicable.
• Pre-employment physical examination and participation in influenza vaccination program as required by VA Health Care Personnel.

Grade Determinations

• GS-9: Entry-level social work duties within program areas that may not require specialized knowledge; includes case management, education on advance directives, advocacy with VA/community providers as needed.
• GS-11: Requires at least one year of post-MSW experience at the GS-9 level (or a doctoral degree in social work with substituted experience) and state licensure/certification for independent practice. Demonstrated KSAs include: knowledge of community resources and referrals; independent psychosocial assessments and interventions; ability to coordinate care; knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses and treatment procedures; ability to guide new staff and interact with diverse clients and agencies.

Note: The full performance level for this vacancy is GS-11; actual hiring grade ranges GS-9 to GS-11 depending on experience and qualifications. Education and foreign credential recognition requirements apply as described by VA qualification standards.