Senior Social Worker-Integrated Care

Seeking new provider to join as an Integrated Care (IC) Senior Social Worker who functions as an advanced practice clinician within Integrated Care (IC) – working at the interface between Primary Care (PC) and/or Specialty Medicine (SM) in a fully integrated behavioral health model.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: 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 is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree may not substitute for the master’s degree.
• Verification of the degree can be made by checking the accreditation list at .
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet criteria).
• Grade Determinations – Senior Social Worker GS-12: Must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure with at least one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Must exhibit skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis, knowledge of outcome evaluation, ability to provide specialized consultation, and ability to expand clinical knowledge and write practice guidelines.
• Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in an office setting; requires light lifting, walking, use of office equipment, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity; may involve exposure to patients who are combative or infectious; requires ability to work effectively in stressful situations.

Duties

• Function as an advanced practice clinician within Integrated Care, interfacing between Primary Care and/or Specialty Medicine in a fully integrated behavioral health model.
• Provide advanced practice skill with evidence‑based psychotherapies (Brief CBT-I, Brief CBT-CP, PE-PC, PST, ACT‑based brief protocols).
• Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment.
• Proficiency in Measurement‑Based Care and data‑informed treatment planning.
• Develop and evaluate the effectiveness of social work practices and integrated behavioral health services.
• Mentor, train, and provide specialized consultation to colleagues and trainees.
• Develop or revise program policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Demonstrate competence with medical and psychiatric conditions, medication impacts, and behavioral treatments for chronic conditions.
• Evaluate own practice via peer review, case consultation, and outcome monitoring.
• Build collaborative relationships with Primary Care/Specialty Medicine teams and community partners.
• Utilize software applications for documentation, data management, and Measurement‑Based Care tools.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
• Pay: Competitive salary plus regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays). Selected applicants may receive credit toward leave accrual based on prior work or military service.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full‑time employees with total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of eligible costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% matching contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care insurance available; many programs can be carried into retirement.