This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.
Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker is under the immediate supervision of the Chief, Behavioral Health Service or designee for the Amarillo VA Health Care System Behavioral Health Care Line in Amarillo. The Behavioral Health Clinic is a multi-disciplinary staff program serving a wide diversity of outpatient Veterans with behavioral health conditions and/or substance use disorders.
The Social Worker is a member of this multidisciplinary treatment team and will participate in all aspects of the behavioral health/substance use disorder programs and is responsible for the delivery of treatment to the Veteran.
The Behavioral Health Clinic utilizes a broad range of treatment modalities, and the incumbent will perform a variety of psychotherapy interventions and service assignments which require specialized knowledge in the nature and impact of behavioral health/substance use on the Veteran and family system. Plans Effective Treatment Completes an initial, comprehensive assessment and provides resources and referrals based on this assessment.
Independently develops a personalized, treatment plan with measurable objectives. Treatment plan is developed in collaboration with Veteran and guided by VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines to insure best outcome for individual. Provider will include referrals for specialty care (e.g., substance use disorder program, MHICM, suicide prevention), domiciliary programs, intensive outpatient treatment and other appropriate interventions.
Of utmost concern will be the safety of the client and assurance of effective outcomes for stabilization. Implements Treatment Provides individual and family clinical services. Services consist of evidence-based psychotherapy and evidence-informed therapy with the goal of reducing symptoms and increasing skill development. Utilizes measurement-based care to track patient progress and guide treatment decision making. Monitors and addresses suicidal and homicidal risk.
Implements motivational skills to encourage clients to utilize effective interventions, complete practice assignments between sessions, and attend sessions at recommended frequency. Utilizes professional skills in addressing clients who are unstable or indifferent to treatment and demonstrates empathic engagement skills to assist Veterans in behavioral health and substance use recovery.
Utilizes comprehensive case management skills to address all aspects of psychosocial strengths and challenges to assist with barriers to effective care. Evaluates/Follows Up; Adjusts Treatment as Necessary Regularly monitors and evaluates progress towards goals, discusses progress with client, and addresses barriers to treatment. Adjusts treatment plans based on treatment response, change in psychosocial stressor or life circumstance, and change in suicide risk.
Follows-up with client after referral or if the client misses a counseling session. Maintains comprehensive case documentation and shows follow-through on plans. Provides psychoeducation to Veteran and family to assist with greater understanding of illness and treatment expectations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts are not required, however, failure to provide transcript may result in non-referral of your application if your education cannot be verified. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. If your school was accredited by CSWE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the CSWE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing/bending/pushing/pulling, in conjunctions with the normal functions of a Physical Therapist.
Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. GS-11 Assignment Continued from Qualifications: This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics.
Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.
Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver.
Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions.
The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate.
The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy.
They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community.
They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population.
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $61722 – $97087/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-09-24.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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