Summary
This position is located within the Social Work Service Line at the Beckley VA Medical Center and outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). This role serves as the Senior Social Worker functioning as an advanced practice mentor for PACT Social Workers, with administrative and clinical responsibility for clinical program and intervention development, evaluation, and modification within Primary Care Social Work.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Primary duties include but are not limited to the following: Administrative Duties Managing all Beckley VAMC Social Work consults, tracking timeliness of completion, and working with the Social Work Supervisor to create action plans to ensure compliance, including reviewing consults to identify and address outliers Leading daily huddles and reporting outcomes Leading all PACT Social Workers in reviewing and monitoring high-risk Veterans in need of case management, utilizing high-risk identifiers such as CAN scores and Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, and assigning work based on these identifiers Reviewing and supporting revisions of policy, procedures, and practice guidelines pertaining to service delivery, and reporting recommendations Expanding clinical social work knowledge through consultation and guidance to colleagues and role-modeling effective social work practice skills Mentoring less experienced social workers and collaborating with the Social Work Supervisor and Senior Social Workers to facilitate orientation of new employees, acting as clinical expert in case consultation, and maintaining the PACT SW onboarding document as a current resource Coordinating PACT Social Worker coverage of the Emergency Department (ED) during normal business hours, including training PACT Social Workers on ED coverage and educating ED staff on how to contact Social Work for assistance Working with the Social Work Supervisor to develop best practices ensuring consistency and excellence in social work practice within assigned areas(s) Representing VA Social Work at community meetings, workshops, and conferences, and actively nurturing new community partnerships Mentoring or serving as a field instructor for trainees, and providing clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification Clinical Duties Establish/ maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Primary Care Clinic and/or their families, working independently with Veterans and families experiencing complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems, often over a series of visits Assessing suicide/homicide risk factors using standardized and validated measures, identifying protective factors, interpreting safety and recommended level of care, and collaborating with the Suicide Prevention program for Veterans at increased risk Providing immediate psychosocial assessments to individuals and families presenting to the Emergency Department, consultation to ED staff, and assistance with creating an appropriate plan of care Independently completing thorough psychosocial assessments to determine psychosocial functioning and needs, utilizing assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment, and documenting interventions using the national template Social Work notes Leading interdisciplinary treatment team discussion on social work needs and collaborating with Veterans, families, and treatment team members in developing and implementing treatment goals and interventions Maintaining working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, substance use disorders, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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 401K 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: Ad-hoc according to Agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 517-260563-F 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-employment physical evaluation 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. 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
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. 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.