Social workers play an important role in delivering proactive, personalized, patient-driven health care for our Veterans. At VA, social workers make use of the skills of social casework, social group work and other major treatment modalities in helping our Veterans and their families handle the social, emotional and economic pressures influencing continuity of family/community life during periods of illness and stress.
A VA social worker also participates with a primary-care physician and other treatment personnel in synthesizing and maximizing rehabilitation goals. VA social work activities are mainly located in the setting of the medical center proper, the outpatient clinics and mental health clinics. These services are also provided in such special settings as day treatment centers, nursing homes, domiciliaries and in such programs as alcohol, day and night hospital treatment, blind rehabilitation and Veterans outreach centers.
VA social workers can advise Veterans, their family members, caregivers and friends about getting help from VA or from community agencies to enable them to continue to live in their own home, or help with programs such as Meals on Wheels.
VA social workers are responsible for ensuring continuity of care through the admission, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up processes. This includes coordinating discharge planning and providing case management services based on the patients clinical and community health and social services resources.
VA social workers develop and implement treatment approaches which address individual social problems. Below is a list of areas where social workers can help:
- Marriage or family problems
- Help with moving to an assisted living facility
- Counseling references (if someone close to the Veteran has passed away and the Veteran wants to talk about it)
- Problems with drinking or drug use
- Counseling those who feel they are mistreated in a relationship
- Parents who feels overwhelmed with child care
- Help a Veteran’s parent or spouse is in failing health; depression; financial or housing assistance
- Those who need help in applying for benefits from VA, Social Security and other government and community programs can seek help from a VA social worker
VA is currently hiring for a variety of social worker positions; the vacancy announcements below are located in Los Angeles, California. The deadline to apply for these positions is Tuesday, February 10, 2015:
VIN# 1309262, 1 Vacancy, GS-12, Supervisor Social Worker HUD/VASH Program
Certified social workers interested in the opportunity to serve our Veterans and their families can review all current VA social worker vacancy announcements on VAcareers.va.gov.
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