Social Worker

Social Worker

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Albuquerque, New Mexico

Salary Range: $84638 - $110025 Per Year

Job Summary: The Community Nursing Home Liaison (CNH) Social Worker works within Geriatric & Extended Care (GEC) Service and provides services to Veterans receiving institutional care through the New Mexico VA Health Care System. Responsible for the visits to Veterans placed in the Community Nursing Home Program. Services include provision of high quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers or agencies as needed.

Major Duties:

• Performs case findings, functions and outreach, identifies and screens patients for psychosocial needs. Incumbent must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and to provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Conducts psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and with the Interdisciplinary Team. Coordinates community based services, including providing information and referrals for additional services from other 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 a liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute chronic and traumatic illness, injuries and medical terminologies. Provides case management to Veterans placed in Community Nursing Homes (CNH) under VA authorization. The CNH Social Worker meets with Veterans and ensures Veterans are receiving necessary care and they continue to meet eligibility criteria for nursing home level of care. In addition, the CNH Social Worker assists in providing continuity of care back to the VA healthcare system when the Veteran is discharged home from the Skilled Nursing Facility. Job duties include assisting the CNH Program Coordinator and maintaining spreadsheets to monitor the Veteran's discharge date. Provides support to Veterans and families dealing with end of life issues and dementia issues. Assists Veterans and families in coping within a long-term care setting as needed. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management, and other computer systems. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 07:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work. Licensure. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Experience/Education: Candidates must possess at least 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; or a Doctoral degree. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's: 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/15/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12844358. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-15