Summary
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) & 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 ineligible to apply.
Duties
The Senior Social Worker provides clinical psychological assessment and treatment at an advanced practice level to eligible Veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social and environmental needs. Their health care and psychosocial needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving. Duties: Provide mental health treatment, psychosocial intervention and case management to address a broad range of medical and mental health issues. Conduct intakes of Veterans seeking homeless services to include Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), Grant and Per Diem (GPD) and Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) utilizing the established referral and screening procedures of the Homeless Program. Perform specialized and intensive case management, psychosocial treatment and intervention of complex physical or medical illness. Drive GSA vehicles to conduct home visits to veteran populations and significant work in the community. Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Make rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans for admission to mental health and/or medical inpatient programs. Develop treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team Establish and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of Veterans and family members. Participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Address Advance Directives in accordance with the standards of their work area. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00141-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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. 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-placement 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. Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle. Must provide clean driving record from the DMV during the pre-employment process. 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.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
How you will be evaluated
Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System All other VA employees Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies VHA HPTs All other applicants Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on the Veterans' Preference IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on the Veterans' Preference The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.