This Social Worker position is based at the St. Albans VA Community Living Center and involves direct practice, multidisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and training. The role requires an experienced professional who can apply a wide range of social work theories and models to diverse client situations, with a focus on adult and geriatric patients.
Responsibilities
Provide direct practice services including individual, group, family, couple, and program development for target populations
Engage in multidisciplinary practice through treatment teams, collaboration, consultation, work groups, and coordination
Conduct community practice activities such as public relations, resource development, and resource coordination
Participate in training for social work and multidisciplinary staff, research, and student supervision
Utilize a variety of theories and models, selected, integrated, and adapted to client biopsychosocial situations
Work under varying kinds and amounts of supervision depending on needs and assignments
Conduct community outreach as needed or according to program requirements
Demonstrate skills and knowledge to provide care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients, including obtaining and interpreting information to identify patient needs
Apply highly skilled interviewing techniques relevantly and appropriately with clients, groups, and within the total system
Integrate data gathering, assessment, ongoing assessment, planning, social work treatment, evaluation of treatment goals, follow-up, and program development
Ensure clinical recording, reports, statistical, and other administrative reporting comply with Community and Social Service and/or Medical Center or VHA time, format, and content standards
Gain knowledge through additional training for special emphasis populations such as the homeless, VIST, SCI, SMI
Actively engage in own learning and training needs, preparing for supervisory conferences and committee work
Actively participate in staff meetings and staff development activities as a participant and/or presenter
Collaborate through formal and informal conferences and/or team meetings with members of other disciplines
Collaborate with other disciplines to evaluate, design, and implement programming for optimal resolution of biopsychosocial problems
Relate to Medical Center staff and/or community agencies within the context of the professional role
Supervise or teach other staff or graduate trainees
Confer with and be consulted by Schools of Social Work regarding student progress in supervisory activities
Coordinate continuum of services through referrals, consultations with other professionals or agencies, and resource development
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Work with a wide range of client populations
Accommodate to changing demands in priorities and pressures, identifying and reporting problems as they arise
Apply and uphold values and ethics of the Social Work profession as well as NYHHS and VHA Standards or Codes of Behavior
Assess and document identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence
Use clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality
Act as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver
Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity
Facilitate the delivery of health care services in collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team
Identify family/caregiver stressors, conduct assessment, and provide specific interventions
Provide case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services
Incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
Link the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities to maximize independence, health, and well-being
Conduct timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate
Requirements
U.S. Citizenship
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Proficient in written and spoken English
Subject to background/security investigation
Must pass pre-employment physical examination or health assessment
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
Actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of appointment
Maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
Knowledge of current professional social work practices
Post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree experience or education
One year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services
Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds
Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals
Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
Nice to have:
Hospice/Palliative Care experience
Nursing Home experience
Geriatric population experience
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package as a federal employee
Access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career rewarding
Eligibility for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience (must be requested and approved prior to appointment date)
Important Details
Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 8am to 4:30pm
Appointment type: Permanent
Trial period: 1 or 2 years
Application deadline: 10/19/2026, 11:59 PM (ET)
Application Process
Complete an online onboarding process
Complete the full questionnaire and submit required documentation
Submit a long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
Provide a cover letter (optional)
Submit DD-214/Statement of Service (if applicable)
Submit Disability Letter (VA) (if applicable)
Submit a valid State Social Work License at the master’s degree level (LMSW)
Submit Separation Notice (RIF) (if applicable)
Submit SF-15 (if applicable)
Submit SF-50/Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable)
Submit Transcript (if using education to qualify)
Claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire if eligible for Veterans' Preference
About the Company
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