Senior Social Worker (Acute Mental Health)

Summary The incumbent within the Acute Mental Health Section will provide appropriate clinical services assessing Veterans for a full spectrum of mental health and substance use disorders, conducting brief screening for such conditions, providing risk assessment and safety planning, participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings to coordinate complex care, assisting with post-discharge care planning, advising patients and family members and other relevant duties in the medical center. Responsibilities VA Careers - Social Work: The incumbent serves as a float social worker within an interdisciplinary team for programs in the Acute Mental Health Section (AMH). Incumbent will rotate quarterly, as needed, among the 5 programs within AMH. Assignments will vary based on program area assigned. Functions include screening, intakes, assessments, diagnosis, resource coordination/linkage, discharge planning, individual/group therapy, treatment planning, work with families, advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, and patient/family education. The incumbent will collaborate with other disciplines, departments and services as needed to ensure continuity of care for Veterans served. The incumbent will track productivity, efficiency, and veteran needs to request additional resources as needed. The incumbent will identify gaps in the delivery of care and take corrective actions as needed. Incumbent performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Incumbent incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Incumbent possesses the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions, Incumbent is able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Incumbent is able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Maintains a current and productive network of referral resources. Makes provision for referral services from other agencies, community resources and other Governmental agencies to resolve problems. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Incumbent provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Provides discharge planning recommendations to ensure post-discharge/aftercare plan is in place. Able to write holds for involuntary hospitalization as indicated. Assists with LPS conservatorship assessment and application process in accordance with county requirements. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Incumbent is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to. treatment plan. Ability to evaluate incumbents own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. Incumbent is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service-connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday (Subject to change upon the needs of the agency. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See

Created: 2025-11-26