Senior Social Worker

PTSD Specialist

This position is located within the Mental Health Service Line at VA Altoona. The PTSD Specialist provides comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. As a Senior Social Worker, the incumbent has the overall responsibility for providing the full-range of psychological services to the patients in the clinic. Services include, intake evaluations, rendering diagnostic opinions, treatment planning, and the provision of evidence-based individual; group and family psychotherapy using a variety of techniques based on psychological principles.

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• The psychosocial interviews & assessments are thorough and include pertinent information in all the required areas of functioning in order to determine appropriate diagnoses and other treatment ­related conclusions.
• Emergency/crisis interventions are provided to patients in an effort to stabilize.
• Psychotherapy as individual, group and/or family interventions are provided when clinically indicated/appropriate and when of therapeutic benefit to the recipients.
• Provides consultation to other treatment teams and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.
• Performs psychological testing and/or exempt testing (based on hospital privileges or scope of practice) when it is clinically appropriate to a treatment question as part of an assessment.
• Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the Mental Health Center and/or their families.
• Possesses a thorough knowledge and have experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
• Independently completes psychosocial assessments and be able to independently provide a DSM diagnosis to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families.
• Utilizes standardized instruments in the assessment of mental health problems and/or conditions.
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of services.
• Facilitates discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner.
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advanced directives.
• Maintains knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.
• Other duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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.

Functional Statement #: 000000 / Senior Social Worker

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized