Senior Social Worker

This position is located within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Southeast Network (VISN 7), VA Augusta Health Care System in the Mental Health Service's Substance Use Recovery Center (SURC). The Senior Clinical Social Worker practices independently at the advanced licensure level, providing specialized clinical psychosocial and case management services to Veterans experiencing substance use disorders (SUD), co-occurring mental health conditions, and related psychosocial challenges.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties to include but not limited to: Provides advanced psychosocial and case management services for Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions. Delivers supportive counseling and recovery-focused interventions aimed at reducing relapse risk, improving coping, and increasing engagement in treatment. Independently assesses high-risk factors such as detox needs, withdrawal risk, overdose risk, relapse history, housing instability, and social determinants impacting recovery. Conducts detailed, recovery-focused psychosocial assessments including substance use history, treatment history, recovery strengths, triggers,psychosocial implications of SUD, and readiness for change. Incorporates complex multiple causation when diagnosing mental health and substance use disorders within approved clinical privilege. - Identifies treatment barriers and collaborates with Veterans and family/support systems to address them Develops individualized treatment plans that integrate SUD recovery goals, harm-reduction strategies, relapse-prevention planning, and coordination with interdisciplinary provider Provides independent consultation to team members regarding clinical assessment findings and recommended treatment approaches for SUD and co-occurring disorders. Determines appropriate use of VA and community recovery resources (e.g., residential treatment, detoxification services, peer support, community sober-living options) Provides individual, group, and family counseling tailored to substance use recovery, including relapse-prevention groups, psychoeducation, recovery skills training, and evidence-based psychotherapies. Engages Veterans in exploring recovery motivation, evaluating substance-related consequences, and building coping strategies through structured interventions. Coordinates care with community-based agencies, residential SUD programs, shelters, halfway houses, and other relevant supports Maintains a productive network of referral resources specific to SUD and co-occurring treatment needs Participates in SURC program development, outcome measurement, and quality-improvement initiatives. Evaluates practice effectiveness through peer review, case conferences, chart audits, and data-driven analyses. Adjusts treatment plans based on evolving clinical needs or Veteran response to interventions. Maintains adherence to professional standards of SUD treatment and supports staff in achieving proficiency in contemporary SUD modalities Educates Veterans and family/significant others on substance use, mental health conditions, relapse prevention, and recovery planning. Provides mentorship and supervision to Social Workers and other trainees. Delivers staff education on SUD treatment modalities, screening tools, crisis management, and recovery-oriented best practices. Independently documents assessments, diagnostics, treatment plans, psychotherapy notes, progress updates, safety plans, and referrals following VA and clinic standards Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm;subject to change based upon agency needs EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Lakita Bush,VHAEDRPPROGRAMSUPPORT@VA.GOV the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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)

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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.