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

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Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

Duties: Provide intensive case management services to assigned veterans and significant others, consistent with the goals and methods of MHICM and the VA Mental Health Initiative.

• Frequent, direct contacts with patients to provide therapy and support.
• Flexibility of veteran contact (veterans are seen in any location and with any MHICM team clinician who can provide assistance).
• A focus on strengthening the patient's ability to address acute and chronic problems.
• Use of naturalistic community settings for teaching and modeling problem-solving skills.
• Provision of continuity of care within the framework established by MHICM.
• Outreach and assertive provision of services to treatment-resistant patients.
• Mobilization of environmental and organizational supports, including family members, professional, and other interested parties.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: Participate in team staffing regarding patient selection, determination of treatment plans and goals, progress evaluation, discharge planning, and aftercare.

• Work assertively and consistently with inpatient teams to assure continuity of care.
• Is actively involved in readmission decisions, using the procedures established for this purpose.
• Completes clinical documentation according to MHICM and Medical Center standards.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.

EDRP Authorized: Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

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.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care.

Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• 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).
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Social Worker, GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
• Ability to utilize a Veteran-centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan.
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

Social Worker, GS-11: Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings.