Social Worker

Social Worker

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Salary Range: $74678 - $97087 Per Year

Job Summary: The incumbent is responsible for the management, coordination, and provision of social work services to veterans and their families on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. The incumbent is responsible for completing psychosocial history and assessments, advance directives, treatment planning, case management, individual, family and group counseling, and coordination of discharge plans for veterans admitted to the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.

Major Duties:

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Conducting psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. Actively participating in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. Participating in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Providing individual, family, and group counseling as appropriate. Providing consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. Acting as a consultant to other team/staff members. Providing consultation/education to medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedure. Acting as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Providing case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. Providing a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. Addressing Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. Providing wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. As appropriate, supervising the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker. Coordinating and communicating with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. Participating in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. Maintaining data and statistical compilations to comply with the Joint Commission (JC), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and medical center policy and procedures. Assisting patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death. Documenting social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).and ensuring appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Participating in a rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs on weekends. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Have a master's degree in social work 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 status 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 the master's degree in social work. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 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, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR; Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. ALL INTERNAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT A RECENT SF-50 FOR CONSIDERATION! Preferred Experience: none Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 level. Physical Requirements: he work requires sitting, bending, stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required. The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020. It will be necessary for the social worker to travel throughout the Wilkes-Barre VAMC catchment area where they conduct interviews with Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies

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 03/16/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12902191. 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: 2026-03-16