Senior Social Worker - Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

The Senior Social Worker position within the VA Palo Alto Health Care System provides advanced-level clinical psychosocial and case management services to Veterans and their families. Working independently under Social Work leadership, the incumbent delivers specialized, high-level clinical practice to address complex biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Available Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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 VAI nsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Functional Statement #: 11836-F VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The incumbent is a Senior Social Worker and provides social work case management services as well as program coordination and development in the inpatient Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC), Comprehensive Rehab Center (CRC), residential Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program (PTRP) and Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Duties include, however, not limited to: Provides independent and expert clinical psychosocial and case management service in a specialized area of practice in the acute rehab Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) and Spinal Cord Injury and/or the Polytrauma Residential Rehabilitation Program (PTRP). Responsible for the coordination of services with the following agencies: VHA, Department of Defense (DoD), Military Treatment Facilities (MTF), Military Medical Support Office (MMSO), Veteran Benefits Affairs (VBA), Vet Centers, as well as wide-ranging community agencies (e.g., child care agencies, housing facilities, financial institutions, employment agencies, etc.) to ensure the most appropriate comprehensive care. Independently provides a full range of assessment and evaluation services appropriate to the care setting. Formulates and implements a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family, and interdisciplinary treatment team. Creates plans of action to ensuring assessment and crisis intervention services are maximized based on circumstances and availability of resources. Demonstrates leadership in developing and expanding professional intervention strategies. Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and countinuing education programs for assigned social work staff.

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.