Senior Social Worker - Residential Program

The New Mexico VA Healthcare System (NMVAHCS) primarily cares for Veterans located throughout New Mexico. The NMVAHCS has a flagship medical center located in Albuquerque (the Raymond G. Murphy VAMC), which is a large teaching hospital affiliated with the University of New Mexico.

The primary function of the Senior Social Worker position in the Residential Division is to serve as the coordinator of the screening and admissions process for Veterans seeking Residential treatment for Substance Use Disorders and/or Mental Health needs. The admissions coordinator is responsible for the following: Coordinating and managing all admissions Coordinating with the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) Centralized Screening hub as well as communicating dispositions post-screening to Veterans and referrers. Filling in and assisting the MHRRTP Centralized Screen hub staff when the NMVAHCS Centralized Screening team member is not present for duty. Maintaining clinical contact and referral services for all Veterans waiting for admission and is further responsible for maintaining all nationally mandated databases regarding admissions. This position requires specialized knowledge, training and skill in the field of mental health to successfully perform the duties specified below. In addition, the incumbent will carry a residential caseload. The incumbent functions in a highly independent manner with respect to performing these duties but also works as a member of a multidisciplinary team. This position is directly supervised by the Residential Division Chief. The incumbent's social work practice will be overseen by the Social Work Executive through the Associate Chief of Behavioral Health Care Line (BHCL) Social Work. The Residential Care Section is seeking an enthusiastic and clinically skilled Social Worker to join an exceptionally competent Residential Care team and to function as a case manager and therapist on one of the three Residential Units. Veterans in this program have been deemed to require a residential level of care for their psychosocial issues and are in transition from homelessness and unemployment to independent community living and employment/meaningful community engagement. All carry one or more psychiatric diagnoses (most commonly Substance Use Disorder, PTSD, Psychotic Disorder and/or Depressive Disorder) from which they are in recovery. In addition to clinical and administrative tasks associated with their Domiciliary clients, the applicant would also be asked to contribute to treatment across all of the Residential Units in collaborative programming efforts. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. An alternate work schedule may be available to accommodate patient care needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.