The incumbent provides a full range of clinical social work duties in an inpatient mental health setting, as approved by their clinical privileges, scope of practice, and as appropriate to support the implementation of social work programs, within Psychiatry Service, Inpatient Mental Health.
Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Primary Clinical Duties: Direct patient care and consultation services of difficult or complex cases. Interacts and works with clinicians from other disciplines as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Skillful in interpersonal relationships including conflict resolution and the ability to work collaboratively with staff from other professions.
Determines patients' need for evaluation, diagnostic procedures, individual and group psychotherapy, and case management. Provides a full range of comprehensive, efficacious, and evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy, as well as interview based and psychological testing-based assessments as approved and credentialed.
Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the VAMC for Veterans for whom the incumbent provides services. The social worker will perform all other duties assigned by the Program Manager, Inpatient Mental Health, even though they may not be outlined above, as long as he or she can do so without violating ethical standards and are approved, credentialed, and privileged.
Clinical Administrative Duties: Determines and provides the proper documents to facilitate the admission, either through the petition processes or through voluntary admission. Files all required documentation with the correct Probate Court in a timely manner. Represents the interests of the Medical Center Director or his or her Designee when interacting with outside entities engaged in the commitment processes.
Regularly communicates via telephone and e-mail with the Michigan Probate Court staff to verify receipt of required documentation and confirm the details of the impending hearings. Prepares and tests the electronic audio/visual equipment in the for commitment hearings. Coordinates notifications of commitment hearings with the Veteran, Probate Court staff, lay witnesses, expert witnesses, court appointed attorney, and any other applicable parties.
Regularly meets with patients to provide copies of legal filings, explains commitment processes, and reviews the Patient Rights as described in the Michigan Mental Health Code. Regularly meets with Inpatient Mental Health treatment teams to review clinical status of involuntary patients prior to hearing and to determine appropriate length of admission allowed under Michigan Mental Health Code.
Tracks status of commitment orders entered for patients admitted to Inpatient Mental Health to assure secondary or continuing petitions are filed in a timely manner. Represents the clinical interests of the treatment team at pre-hearing meetings. Coordinates with Utilization Management to verify files of incoming transfers of patients. Maintains hard copies and electronic files in the electronic health record for tracking Inpatient Mental Health admissions.
Assures all necessary witnesses are contacted, briefed, and present for commitment hearings. Prepares the Demands for Hearing, Orders of Noncompliance, Notification of Hospitalization, pcm-216 Alternative Treatment Orders, pleading and files with Probate Court. Prepares the Stipulations for Court Ordered Treatment pleading, with the court-appointed attorney.
Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 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).
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 #: 91463A, 91464A 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/.
Tenia.Burton@va.gov · 4434221241
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $70459 – $110830/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-17.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
Apply on official site →