Social Worker

Social Worker

This position is approved for the Education Debt Reduction Program (ERDP) which will pay up to $200,000 in qualifying student loans over a term of five years! This position is located at the Williamsport, PA VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The Social Worker in this position in Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine Service is responsible for the provision of case management, individual and group therapy, clinical treatment, crisis intervention, advocacy, discharge planning, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies, as needed by the client. This is accomplished in collaboration with members of their inpatient mental health treatment teams and other interdisciplinary treatment team members, as appropriate.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Social Worker will develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, and family members/significant others, whenever possible
• Responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family members/significant others and other WBVAMC clinical staff
• Responsible for delivery of psychotherapy interventions within the outpatient behavioral health clinic, to include evaluation, treatment plan, mental health crisis intervention, progress and recovery oriented discharges
• Delivery of evidence/measurement based services with successful completion of VA or Community Psychotherapy Certified Trainings
• Throughout the course of treatment, the Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources
• Responsible for using the current Social Work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans
• Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/significant others
• Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. The Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis.
• Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans and families/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Responsible for the coordination of the referrals of non-institutional services such as HBPC, ADHC/CADHC, home hospice and skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members
• Provide the veterans and identified family with ongoing supportive counseling as directed by Veteran Preference
• Enter all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates
• Effectively communicates with and utilizes community agencies to facilitate treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care
• The employee's relationship with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and overall contributes to the effective operation of the case management program
• Other related duties as assigned

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. 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 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

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized