Advance Your Clinical Career: Social Worker Opportunities with the Defense Health Agency

Are you a dedicated clinical social worker looking to transition your practice into a setting where your work directly supports national readiness? The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is currently seeking compassionate, skilled clinicians to join the team at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Cavazos, Texas. This role offers the unique opportunity to provide essential behavioral health services to our uniformed service members, retirees, and their families.

Job Responsibilities

As a Clinical Social Worker, your primary focus will be the comprehensive care of patients navigating behavioral health challenges. Key duties include:

Diagnostic Assessment: Conducting thorough bio-psychosocial evaluations to determine accurate diagnostic impressions.
Clinical Counseling: Providing individual or group therapy using evidence-based modalities.
Treatment Planning: Developing and implementing behavioral health interventions tailored to patient needs.
Case Management: Monitoring patient progress, managing symptom severity, and facilitating follow-up consultations.

Grade Comparison Overview

Feature	GS-11	GS-12
Scope of Practice	Developmental/Clinical	Full Performance/Clinical
Supervision Level	Close Supervision	Independent/General
Core Requirement	Master's + License	Master's + License + Specialized Exp

Requirements and Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, applicants must hold a Master’s degree (or higher) from a Council on Social Work Education accredited school. You must possess a current, active, and unrestricted clinical license. A minimum of one year of specialized experience in a clinical setting is required for both grade levels.

Salary Overview

This position is compensated through the General Schedule (GS) pay scale. Depending on your experience and qualifications, the salary range for this announcement is between $74,678 and $116,362 per year.

Benefits

Working for the federal government provides a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Robust health and life insurance options.
Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
Accrued annual and sick leave.
Potential for recruitment or relocation incentives.

Application Tips

Respect the Page Limit: Your resume must be two pages or less. Submissions exceeding this limit will not be considered.
Documentation: Always include your unofficial transcripts and clinical license as part of your initial application package.
Clarity: Use clear language to describe your clinical experience, ensuring you cover your specific duties in bio-psychosocial assessment and counseling.

Serving those who serve our country is a profoundly rewarding professional path. With competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a mission-driven environment, this Clinical Social Worker position at Fort Cavazos represents an excellent career move for any licensed professional ready to elevate their practice. Apply today to begin your federal career journey.

Why This Social Worker (Clinical) Job Matters

Make a lasting impact on the lives of service members and their families as a Clinical Social Worker at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.

Social Worker (Clinical) Job Overview

The Defense Health Agency is seeking compassionate and dedicated Clinical Social Workers to join the team at Fort Cavazos, Texas. In this role, you will provide vital behavioral health services, including bio-psychosocial assessments, evidence-based counseling, and treatment planning for military personnel and their families. This is a Direct Hire opportunity that offers competitive federal benefits, potential recruitment incentives, and the chance to advance your career within a world-class integrated healthcare system.

Requirements for Social Worker (Clinical)

U.S. Citizenship is required.
Master's degree or higher in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
Current, active, and unrestricted clinical license to practice social work independently.
Resume must be two pages or less.
Completion of a pre-employment certification for Selective Service registration for males born after 1959.
Submission of unofficial transcripts for education verification.

Preferred Qualifications for Social Worker (Clinical)

One year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level (for GS-11 applicants) or GS-11 level (for GS-12 applicants) performing bio-psychosocial evaluations and clinical counseling.
Demonstrated ability to develop comprehensive behavioral health treatment plans.
Proven experience in evidence-based therapeutic modalities.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Health and Life Insurance
✓Retirement plans including the Thrift Savings Plan
✓Paid annual and sick leave
✓Potential recruitment or relocation incentives
✓Student loan repayment assistance (subject to eligibility)
✓Opportunities for salary negotiation for new federal employees

💡 How to Apply Social Worker (Clinical) Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Social Worker (Clinical) Job

Log into your USAJOBS account.
Prepare a resume that is two pages or less, clearly detailing your clinical experience.
Gather your unofficial transcripts and clinical social work license.
Complete the required online questionnaire via the USA Staffing link.
Upload all supporting documents, including your license and transcripts.
Submit your application before the closing date.

💡 General Tips

Ensure your resume strictly adheres to the two-page limit; submissions exceeding this will be disqualified.
Use clear, professional language and avoid obscure acronyms.
Double-check that your clinical license is active and unrestricted before applying.
Ensure your resume lists exact start/end dates (month/year) and hours worked per week.
Allow extra time for file virus scans after uploading documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a license required to apply?

Yes, a current, active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice social work independently is mandatory for this role.

Can I substitute education for the required experience?

No, for this specific position, you must meet the qualification requirements using experience; education substitution is not permitted.

Are there opportunities for salary negotiation?

Yes, salary negotiation may be available for candidates who are new to the Federal service.

Is relocation assistance available?

Yes, relocation incentives may be authorized for eligible candidates.

Can I apply if I am not a veteran?

Yes, this is a public announcement open to U.S. citizens.

Job from Military Treatment Facilities Under Dha

The Defense Health Agency is the backbone of healthcare within the Department of Defense. With a mission to ensure the worldwide delivery of medical, dental, and pharmacy programs to over 9.5 million beneficiaries, the DHA is a vital strategic partner in national security. Joining this agency means working within a collaborative, integrated environment that values innovation and excellence in patient care.