The Phoenix VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker within Mental Health's Psychological Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC). The incumbent will provide services to special patient populations, addressing highly complex health and mental health needs, and will also provide clinical supervision to social work staff handling similarly complex cases.
NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 30 Day Hiring Model: The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection.
This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.
What Applicants Can Expect: Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration. Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.
Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.
Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service.
If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Interviews Veterans to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health. Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs.
Reviews all referral data from Social Workers, case managers, managed care staff and discharge planners to identify patients' needs. Makes a clinical assessment identifying the Veteran's needs and strengths. Uses advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options. Assesses high risk factors, acuity, and need for VHA services and community services.
Ability to serve Veterans in severe crisis or with limited support, noncompliance, or significant coping skill deficits requiring ongoing psychosocial care. Independently evaluates the Veteran's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make psychosocial diagnoses based on the psychosocial assessment.
Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran and family or significant others. Serves as a mentor to other Social Worker staff members, particularly those at the entry level. Travels where necessary, or as assigned in the capacity of community out reach support. The incumbent will maintain a current, unrestricted driver's license. Work Schedule: Hours will be discussed during the interview.
Compressed/Flexible: Available at supervisors discretion. 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: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
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/.
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $107048 – $139166/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-04.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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