WDVA Social Worker 2 (PSW2), Full-Time Permanent, Washington Veterans Home

Social Worker 2 (Psychiatric Social Worker 2) Full-Time - Permanent Washington Veterans Home

Join a passionate team dedicated to Serving Those Who Served! We are now accepting applications to join our multidisciplinary team as a Social Worker 2 to make a lasting impact for our Veteran residents and their families at the Washington Veterans Home! In this role, you will support our residents through comprehensive psychosocial care, behavioral health interventions, and care planning in a 24/7 skilled nursing facility.

Please Note: The expected hours for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position is not eligible for telework.

*This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules.

Updated as of July 1, 2025: This position is eligible for "Supplement Basic Shift Premium" for 24/7 Facilities. Employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location will receive an additional one dollar ($1.00) per hour of supplemental basic shift premium for each hour of basic shift premium. This shift premium does not apply to overtime hours. The supplemental basic shift premium shall expire on June 29, 2027.

At the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of “Serving Those Who Served.” As a national leader in our advocacy for nearly 500,000 Veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to Veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star Families. As a Psychiatric Social Worker 2, you will serve as a key voice in treatment planning and care conferences for those who have served.

Some of what you'll do:• Conduct interviews for ongoing assessment and treatment with a focus on the resident's cognitive, mood, psychosocial, and behavioral status.

• Provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Monitor, track, and report on resident and family complaints and grievances.
• Complete documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Perform assessments, one-on-one visits, phone calls, care conferences, and discharge planning.
• Serve as the facility discharge planner, assessing resident readiness for discharge and planning for smooth transition from facility to community.
• Maintain working knowledge and written materials related to community resources.
• Conduct and participate in resident/family groups, facilitate resident care conferences, and provide input on resident status relative to area of expertise.
• Develop behavior plans and maintain behavior monitors when necessary.
• And more!

*Complete Position Description available upon request

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education program.

• AND

• One year of experience counseling or providing care for individuals with chronic mental health issues, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities in a long-term care or behavioral health care setting.

• OR

• A combination of education and experience may be considered on a year-for-year basis. Experience must be relevant to the position.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of social work; principles and characteristics of mental and emotional illness, current social and economic problems; interviewing techniques; individual and group behavior.

• Ability to: conduct therapeutic group and individual interviews; analyze and draw conclusions from case records and interviews; work cooperatively with professional and nonprofessional staff: speak and write clearly and effectively.

• Must have practice knowledge in aging, disability, mental illness, Alzheimer’s disease, and developmental disabilities.

• If holding less than a Master’s degree in Social Work, must be directly supervised by an employee who has a Master’s degree in Social Work.

• Good analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to weigh options and foresee consequences and employ sound judgment in managing problems and resources.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to model support of the WDVA mission and vision as well as support of facility leadership and team members.

• Consulting skills – ability to partner with residents, families and other providers and care team to identify and service resident care needs.

• Must comply with mandatory training requirements.

• Willingness to champion resident-centered care concept and principles.

• Agency Required Competencies for all positions:• The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred/Desired:• Master's degree in social work from an accredited social work education program.

• Two (2) years in long-term care or medical social work setting.

• Experience working with chronically mentally ill individuals and Veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury.

• Current, valid Washington state licensure for licensed advanced social worker (LASW), licensed social worker associate and independent clinical (LSWAIC), or licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW).

• Experience/knowledge in:• Specialized training devoted to mental illness and treatment of older adults.

• Care of geriatric population and dementia care.

• Medical conditions/diagnoses in relationship to psychosocial wellbeing.

• Categories of psychoactive medication and side effect profiles.

• Federal tags, WACs, etc,

• Knowledge of Veterans' issues/PTSD/resources.

• Ability to effectively organize and prioritize a heavy workload.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy 615.000 Background Checks. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Must comply with annual Tuberculin Screening in accordance with DVA policy 670.000 Tuberculosis Testing.
• Requires medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the Washington Industrial Safety and Act standards. Must be able to wear a respirator, medical gloves, gowns, eye protection, and other personal protection as required by a job or task.
• Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs. and be capable of reaching a minimum of 36" using proper technique to stock shelves and access supplies. Employee must also be able to push or pull with sufficient strength and walk, sit, and bend in an unrestricted manner during the entire workday.
• Must maintain a valid Washington state licensure for LASW, LSWAIC, or LICSW.
• Must maintain regular and reliable attendance and be willing to work as needed.
• This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards and is expected to adjust hours to meet program needs. This may require working excess hours to include weeksn and/or holidays.
• Must successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in-service, and other required training.
• Must become familiar and comply with all DVA policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
• Must sign the confidentiality statement for all employees.
• Positions requiring travel must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and must be insured if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

Application Process: Top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described below. Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers. Other Information:

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or Veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 725-2183. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency, please contact us at [email protected].