Senior Social Worker

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

What you will do

• Represent the ADTP/SUD program with professionalism when working with Veterans, interdisciplinary providers, community agencies, and family/support systems.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in SUD specialty care, including withdrawal management needs, co occurring disorders, and evidence based SUD treatment options.
• Collaborate with Addiction Medicine, Psychiatry, Primary Care, ED/inpatient teams, and RRTP staff to ensure coordinated responses for complex or acute Veterans requiring early intervention.
• Provide education and consultation across the medical center regarding SUD assessment, treatment planning, crisis stabilization, and recovery oriented supports.
• Use extensive knowledge of VA and community SUD programs, detoxification and rehabilitation services, crisis centers, sober supports, and behavioral health agencies when arranging referrals.
• Coordinate referrals within the SUD specialty clinic to RRTP, outpatient mental health, primary care, and community resources, ensuring timely linkage based on clinical urgency and Veteran preference.
• Assist Veterans and caregivers in navigating care transitions, including those discharged from inpatient settings and those with minimal treatment engagement but recurring crisis service use.
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments and independently diagnose substance use disorders and co occurring mental disorders, particularly for complex or acute Veterans requiring stabilization or withdrawal management.
• Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment planning within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice, considering medical, psychiatric, trauma, environmental, and social determinants of health.
• Identify co morbid complications through brief assessment and rapid formulation, including withdrawal risk, intoxication related danger, overdose risk, medical instability, or psychiatric decompensation.
• Document comprehensive assessments that include strengths, limitations, risk factors, coping strategies, and support systems to guide treatment and care coordination.
• Provide specialized consultation to staff, trainees, and interdisciplinary teams on complex SUD presentations, motivational approaches, co occurring disorders, crisis mitigation, and referral pathways.
• Advocate for Veterans facing barriers to care, stigma related to addiction, or challenges navigating the VA system.
• Encourage Veterans and caregivers to advocate for their own needs, supporting autonomy and recovery oriented care.
• Provide comprehensive, evidence based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy for SUD and co occurring conditions.
• Offer evidence based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD, Motivational Interviewing, Contingency Management, relapse prevention strategies, and programmatically indicated modalities.
• Identify when specialty consultation is needed and make referrals to appropriate medical, psychiatric, or mental health services.
• Provide psychoeducation, counseling, and care coordination for Veterans experiencing medical complications related to substance use, ensuring collaboration with Addiction Medicine and inpatient teams.
• Complete clinical reminders and SUD related screening tools within approved scope of practice and clinical privileges.
• Make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans for Veterans experiencing psychiatric instability, acute withdrawal, suicidal ideation, intoxication related risk, or medical emergencies.
• Maintain access to crisis resources and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure warm handoffs, appropriate admissions, and safety focused interventions.
• Serve as an essential interdisciplinary team member for Veterans at high risk for suicide or overdose, ensuring appropriate monitoring, risk management, and treatment coordination.
• Provide community outreach to complex Veterans who frequently use emergency or crisis services but exhibit limited treatment engagement.
• Monitor follow up services using dashboards and tracking tools to meet SAIL expectations and ensure continuity of care after inpatient discharge.
• Coordinate point of care testing (urine drug screens, breathalyzer testing, vital signs) with interdisciplinary team members as clinically indicated.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and role modeling to colleagues and trainees regarding best practices in SUD treatment, crisis intervention, and recovery focused care.
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis per agency policy EDRP Authorized: (Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.) Contact ***, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
• Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• 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 (***).
• 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 examination.
• 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.

Education

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: ***

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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) PCS Orders Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.