Social Worker (HUD VASH)

The Social Worker is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Southeast Network (VISN 7), VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS), Athens VA Clinic, Athens, Georgia, in the Social Work Service Line. Incumbent may be assigned to a variety of clinical programs with a wide range of acute activities; providing inpatient and outpatient services and treatment plans for patients.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker is located in the Social Work Service Line at the Athens VA Clinic, Athens, Georgia. The Incumbent may be assigned to a variety of clinical programs with a wide range of outpatient activities. Social Worker duties include but not limited: GS11: Performs case finding functions, outreach, discharge planning, identifying, and screening patients for psychosocial needs, mental health, alcohol, tobacco, and substance use disorders. Conducts psychosocial assessments and facilitates discharge plans conducive to the needs of the Veteran and family. Coordinates community-based services including community residential care, assisted living, and community nursing home placement for vulnerable Veterans, including information and referral for additional services from VA programs; other government programs and community agency programs. Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. 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. 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. Works with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Performs accountability functions: 1) document all contacts with patients/families in the electronic medical record: 2) completes statistical and other reports in accordance with, VISN and Medical Center and service policies. Provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to a treatment plan. Ability to evaluate incumbents' own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. GS-09: Works under supervision. Conducts psychosocial assessments of a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Works with patients and families who are experiencing basic emotional, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems are completed under close supervision. Assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Serves on committees, councils, workgroups, and/or task forces. Serves as liaison to community agencies and networks with agency representatives. Obtains and/or participates in continuing education. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday - Friday. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. 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 #: 62309F, 62310F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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 health 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 1 or 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/.