Career Center

The primary purpose of the position is to provide a variety of psychosocial assessments, case management services, and family services with individual Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems; and instruct social work students, residents, interns and fellows. The Senior Social Worker is involved in case management, advocacy, providing psychosocial education, and coordinating linkages with appropriate VA providers. These are float positions that will cover vacancies, vacations, staff shortages etc. for any social work position within VA North Texas Healthcare System. This may require travel to any NTX facilities or CBOC's and in the community. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal Driver License to operate a government vehicle. Some position coverage my require telework so these positions will be on ADHOC telework. Duties include but are not limited to: Independently evaluate Veterans and family members/significant others situation and arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Using professional judgment and advanced practice skills and based on the psychosocial assessment, make a psychosocial diagnosis, develop an appropriate treatment plan and provide counseling services. Work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems. Participate on an interdisciplinary team and recommends a course of treatment. Employ advanced clinical interventions and casework methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the Veteran work towards the best way of dealing with his/her problems. Develop and implement methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in their setting, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Design changes based on empirical findings. Provide support and interventions regarding the psychosocial impact of coping with illness, stress related to the response or an acceptance of diagnosis, treatments recommended, need for additional VA services or community-based services. Provide a variety of services for Veterans including but not limited to psychosocial assessments, pre-discharge and admission planning, short-term solution focused counseling with individuals and families who may be in crisis and with outside agencies working with Veterans, provides more intensive psychotherapy services appropriate to their licensure, education and referral for resources and benefits, suicide risk screening/assessment, clinical reminders and post-intervention follow-up at a level appropriate to their licensure. Based upon Veterans needs and eligibility, facilitate and/or coordinate VA and community-based services and referrals. Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs, educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Coordinate referrals/consults for non-institutional services such as Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC), Community Adult Day Health Care (CADHC), Community Nursing Home, hospice, transitional and supportive housing, and skilled and non-skilled homecare services in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team members. Act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, conduct education and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Provide services from a Whole Health perspective ensuring whole health integration as Veteran's transition across settings/continuum of care. Manage evaluation of the professional services provided. Devise methods of obtaining data, and evaluates data to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Serve on various Social Work Service, Mental Health Service, Medical Center, or community-based committees. Provide independent and expert clinical psychosocial and case management service coverage in other specialized programs either under social work service or where social workers provide services including, but not limited to Caregiver Support Program (CSP), Spinal Cord Injury, Post-9/11 Military2VA (M2VA) Case Management, Medical Foster Home, Home-Based Primary Care, Community Nursing Home/Adult Day Health Care Programs and Community Care. Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff. Submit written and/or enter electronic data promptly and accurately per policy and/or procedures. Provide subject matter expert consultation to staff and provide teaching and mentoring to staff and trainees in social work and topics related to social work including but not limited to, psychosocial treatment, care coordination, case-management, social determinants of health, and specialty areas of practice. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; dependent on coverage assignment Telework: Ad Hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Senior Social Worker (Float)/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required