Job Description

Senior Social Worker

The Phoenix VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Senior Social Worker within Mental Health's Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) at the 32nd Street Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) location. The incumbent will provide services to special patient populations, addressing highly complex health and mental health needs, and will also provide clinical supervision to social work staff handling similarly complex cases. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 30 Day Hiring Model: The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect: Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.

HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.

Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.

Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions

After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Interviews Veterans to gather facts, understand presenting problems, and explain VA treatment and benefit programs.
• Reviews referral information to identify patient needs.
• Completes clinical assessments of Veterans' needs and strengths.
• Uses advanced clinical judgment to interpret data and recommend treatment options.
• Assesses high-risk factors, acuity, and need for VA or community services.
• Supports Veterans in crisis or with limited support, noncompliance, or poor coping skills.
• Independently evaluates the Veteran's situation and formulates conclusions.
• Uses professional judgment to make psychosocial diagnoses.
• Identifies at-risk factors and develops an initial plan with the Veteran and family.
• Serves as a mentor to entry-level Social Workers.
• Travels as needed for community outreach and maintains a current, unrestricted driver's license.

Work Schedule: Hours will be discussed during the interview.

Compressed/Flexible: Available at supervisors discretion.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): This is not a virtual position.

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