# Presentation: 913751

## Clinical Social WorkVeterans Health Administration

**Clinical Social Work****Veterans Health ****Administration**

***Twenty First Century ******Employer of Choice***

## The Mission of VHA

**To provide high quality medical care and rehabilitation to veterans.**
**Conduct research and investigation of veteran’s diseases and disabilities.**
**Offer education and training to the ****nation’s health care workers.**
**Supply medical care to the ****Department of Defense in****war or national emergencies.**

##              Mission of VA Social Work

**To eliminate psychosocial complications as barriers to healthcare access for veterans and families. **
**To develop and maintain integrated programs in patient care through research, education and prevention.**

## Vision

**Vision**

**    **

**VA Social Work will provide the foremost leadership in the psychosocial care of veterans and their families.**

## Values

**To respect the dignity and worth of the veteran -  upholding ethical standards of social work practice.**
**To advocate for changes that are responsive to veterans’ needs through use of community and VA resources.**
**To create a learning environment promoting new knowledge, clinical social work practice and administrative excellence.**

***We are committed to the psychosocial welfare of veterans and their  families.   We offer social work staff as our greatest resource. ***

##           Clinical Social Workers

**Crisis intervention**
**Group, family and individual therapies**
**Casework and other individualized treatment options**
**Interdisciplinary treatment coordination to  maximize goals**

*** ******The role of the clinical social worker is to help veterans & their families through the emotional, environmental, cultural, and economic pressures during times of need.***
***Social workers utilize:***

##          History of VHA Social Work

**June 16, 1926, established the social work program in Veterans Bureau.  First year     staffing was ****36**** social workers.**
**Currently more than ****3800**** master’s prepared social workers are employed.**
**Social workers are assigned to most VA    program areas.**
**Largest single agency that trains more than     ****600 ****social work graduate students each year!**

## VA Social WorkProgram Involvement

**Care Coordination**
**Mental Health & Behavioral Health**
**Community Based Programs**
**Primary Care**
**Geriatrics and Extended Care**
**Rehabilitation Programs**
**Medicine and Surgery Service**

## VA Social Work Career Benefits

**Generous leave and holidays**
**Health, life and long term care insurance plans**
**Excellent retirement plan**
**Mobility opportunities**
**CEU opportunities**

## Child Care Services
Employee Health & Wellness Programs
Employee Associations
Onsite dining facilities & credit unions 
Mentoring programs
Free parking
Smoke free work place

**Employee Health & Wellness Programs**
**Employee Associations**
**Onsite dining facilities & credit unions **
**Mentoring programs**
**Free parking**
**Smoke free work place**

**Additional Benefits**

**Most VA facilities offer:**

## Career Opportunities

**Clinical, Administrative and Executive Positions**
**Research**
**Social Work Student Instructor **
**Relationships with  local  School of Social Work Graduate Education Programs**
**Partnership with Community**
**    ****Agencies**

## Succession Planning Opportunities

**Social Work & VHA Mentoring Programs**
**National Social Work Committees**
**Career Advancement Training Programs**
**Leadership Training Programs**

##      Employee Diversity &      Special Emphasis Programs

**Asian American & Pacific Islanders**
**African American**
**Hispanic **
**Native American**
**People with Disabilities**
**Federal Women**

## VA Social Work Application Process

**    ****Applicants may**** ****contact the Social Work Executive Office at the facility of desired employment or the following websites:**

** **_[www.usajobs.opm.gov](http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/)__._
**  **_[www.va.gov](http://www.va.gov/)__ ._

## VHA

**VHA**
**Clinical Social Worker**

- Visit us on the web at:
- _[http://www.va.gov/socialwork](http://www.va.gov/socialwork)_

**Developed by the  National VA Social Work Public Relations Committee 2002**
**Updated 2004**