Social Worker - Assertive Community Treatment Program - Substance Abuse Disorder

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. The National Center for Warrior Independence supports the Administration by advancing programs and partnerships that strengthen Veteran resilience, promote independent living, and ensure effective delivery of services across the enterprise. The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is Seeking Highly Energetic Candidates This position plays a vital role in supporting the Center's mission to enhance Veteran independence through coordinated services, strategic outreach, and programmatic excellence. Ideal candidates are motivated, adaptable, and committed to improving Veteran outcomes through collaboration, innovation, and high-quality service delivery. The role involves supporting interdisciplinary teams, managing key program functions, and helping drive initiatives that empower Veterans to thrive in their communities. This vacancy is a solicitation for a Hiring Fair Event, which will be offered on an invite-only basis once the minimum position qualifications have been verified. Candidates who resides in the West Los Angeles commuting area will be required to attend in person. Candidates who reside outside of West Los Angeles commuting area will have the opportunity to tele-interview: Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026 Time: 8:00 AM • 3:00 PM Location of Hiring Event: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Ave Los Angeles, CA 90073 Core duties may include: • Supporting National Center for Warrior Independence programs that enhance Veteran resilience and promote independent living. • Assisting with coordination, planning, and execution of service delivery initiatives across healthcare and administrative service lines. • Engaging in outreach, partnership building, and communication efforts that improve access, awareness, and effectiveness of Veteran programs. • Ensuring timely and accurate support to Veterans, staff, and interdisciplinary teams through data gathering, scheduling, documentation, and workflow management. • Contributing to innovation and process improvements aimed at strengthening Veteran outcomes and operational success. VA Careers • Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This GS-11 Substance Abuse Disorder Social Worker is an integral part of the Assertive Community Treatment team, dedicated to enhancing Veterans' quality of life through evidence-based outpatient treatments for substance use, behavioral addictions, and impulse control disorders. Job duties include: Delivers intensive case management, outreach, individualized care plans, and comprehensive services incorporating the Wellness and Recovery Model, Trauma-Informed Care, and Evidenced-Based Practices following ACT program, VA Mental Health Initiative, and Medical Center protocols. The position serves Veterans with substance use disorders, dependency, pathological gambling, as well as complex psychosocial, physical, and mental health challenges. Conducts biopsychosocial assessments for admissions, discharge planning, and ongoing therapeutic evaluation. Direct contact with Veterans is frequent and occurs in-person, with heightened engagement during crises-minimum weekly encounters twice per week. Flexibility in meeting locations and on-call availability after hours, weekends, and holidays is required. Develops treatment plans collaboratively with Veterans, families, and the interdisciplinary team. Based on comprehensive assessment, appropriate psychosocial strategies are implemented. Services include crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and psychotherapy, family therapy, and evidence-based techniques for substance dependency, including harm reduction. Facilitates weekly treatment groups (early recovery, relapse prevention, family education, pathological gambling, social support) via VVC, VANTS, or face-to-face, and additional groups as needed. Provides information, referral, and linkage services for Veterans and families to both VA and community resources. Other duties as assigned. Announcement may close earlier depending on applicant count. Work Schedule: Various tours of duty based on the needs of the service. Compressed/Flexible: May be available based on the needs of the service. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be approved for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station: Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. 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) 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 Telework/Virtual: Not available Functional Statement #: 000000 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. English Language Proficiency Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 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/. Documentation must be submitted with your application. 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: GS-11 level:This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. 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. In addition, candidates must demonstrate all of the below Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): OR 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. In addition candidates must hold a licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level and demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities(KSAs): GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. 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. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; navigate steps; uneven terrain such as grassy areas, paved and unpaved pathways, sidewalks; hearing (aid permitted). Travel throughout the community is required for this position. 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 evaluation. 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. IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.