Social Worker Job

Transforming Lives: Serve as a VA Clinical Social Worker in Kerrville, Texas

For clinical professionals, few roles offer the profound sense of purpose, professional growth, and stable career paths found in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system, the VA relies heavily on dedicated clinical social workers to support, guide, and heal those who have served in the military.

Currently, the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (STVHCS) is accepting applications for a Social Worker (GS-09/11) to work within the specialized Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) program. Based in the beautiful city of Kerrville, Texas, this position is a high-impact clinical role designed for compassionate professionals ready to provide transformative, community-based care to Veterans diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

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About the Agency: The South Texas Veterans Healthcare System

The South Texas Veterans Healthcare System is a cornerstone of medical and mental health care for Veterans in Texas, serving one of the largest primary service areas in the United States. Spanning 35 counties, the STVHCS is part of the VA Heart of Texas Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17).

The healthcare system operates two primary inpatient campuses:

1. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio
2. The Kerrville VA Hospital in Kerrville, Texas

With a team of more than 5,900 employees, STVHCS delivers comprehensive primary, secondary, and tertiary care to over 114,000 Veterans. The system is also affiliated with UT Health San Antonio, offering an incredibly robust academic and research-driven clinical environment. In Kerrville, the VA facility supports an extensive ambulatory care program, an Extended Care Therapy Center, a Spinal Cord Injury Center, and advanced rehabilitation services, giving staff access to world-class resources to support their clinical work.

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Job Responsibilities: Advanced Community-Based Clinical Care

As a Clinical Social Worker in the MHICM program (and the MHICM RANGE program for rural environments), your work will move beyond the traditional office setting. The clinical mission is focused on developing, implementing, and assessing behaviorally oriented programs of psychosocial rehabilitation, intensive case management, and assertive community treatment for chronically mentally ill Veterans.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Community and Home-Based Treatment: You will provide intensive case management services directly in the community and in Veterans' homes. This requires independent decision-making in diverse environments.
• Evidence-Based Interventions: Utilizing frameworks like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), you will execute psychosocial assessments and clinical treatment plans tailored to Veterans from various socioeconomic, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
• Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention: You will utilize standard operating procedures to mitigate suicide risks, including completing the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS) and developing comprehensive safety plans within the computerized medical record system.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: You will actively collaborate with inpatient treatment teams, medical professionals, families, and community partners to promote rehabilitation, coordinate services, and expedite safe transitions of care.
• Safe Veteran Transport: When necessary, you will perform safety evaluations on-the-spot and transport Veterans in government-issued vehicles to assist them in accessing care or community resources.

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Requirements & Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet strict federal and clinical criteria. Because the VA maintains exceptional clinical standards, candidates must show they possess both the academic foundation and clinical credentials required for independent, high-level practice.

Basic Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: Non-citizens can only be considered under rare circumstances when no qualified citizens are available.
• English Language Proficiency: Must speak and write English fluently as required by federal law.
• Academic Credentials: A Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is mandatory. A doctoral degree in social work cannot substitute for this master's degree requirement.
• Licensure: You must be licensed or certified by a state to practice social work at the independent practice level. While the GS-11 level requires active independent licensure, the GS-09 level provides some exceptions for unlicensed professionals working toward independent practice.

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Salary and Grade Level Comparison

The full performance level of this position is GS-11, with hiring possible at both the GS-09 and GS-11 grades. The overall salary range is $77,772 to $122,334 per year, with exact pay determined by qualification evaluations and prior experience.

Below is a comparison of the clinical expectations and requirements between the GS-09 and GS-11 grades:

Feature	GS-09 Grade Level	GS-11 Grade Level
Salary Entry Point	Lower end of the $77,772 - $122,334 range	Upper end of the $77,772 - $122,334 range
Post-MSW Experience	None beyond basic MSW requirements	Minimum 1 year post-MSW experience (or Doctoral degree)
Licensure Expectation	Can be unlicensed; must obtain independent license within 3 years	Must possess independent, master's-level state licensure
Supervision	Required by a licensed independent practitioner	Operates independently within approved scope of practice
Clinical Independence	Supervised clinical practice; progress monitored by supervisor	Full autonomy in complex cases, psychodiagnostics, and treatment

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Benefits & Total Rewards

The VA offers a comprehensive benefits package that far exceeds standard private-sector compensation. Known as "Total Rewards," these benefits ensure long-term physical, mental, and financial health for VHA employees.

• Paid Time Off: You will receive 37 to 50 paid days off annually. This includes 13 to 26 days of annual vacation leave (depending on prior federal/military service), 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, you are eligible for up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: Employees with a household income under $144,000 may qualify for childcare subsidies of up to 25% of costs, capped at $416.66 monthly.
• Federal Retirement Pension: Secure your future with a traditional federal pension vested after only five years, alongside the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP/401k) with up to a 5% matching contribution from the VA.
• Health and Life Insurance: Premium options for federal health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance, with many options carryable into retirement.

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Application Tips and Standard Clinical Resume Guidelines

Applying for a federal clinical role is a detailed process. To ensure your application receives the consideration it deserves, follow these critical tips:

1. Use the Standard Clinical Resume Template: The VA requires a specific, one-page Clinical Resume Document to be downloaded and uploaded into the restricted two-page 'Resume' field. You must use this file for your initial screening, but you can upload your full, multi-page professional CV in the 'Other' document field with no length restrictions.
2. Be Explicit and Detailed: Do not assume federal HR staff will guess your clinical duties. Use detailed descriptions of your clinical internships, volunteer work, and paid professional experience. If you have experience with serious mental illnesses (SMI) or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), highlight these concepts directly in your descriptions.
3. Submit Complete Documentation: Failure to submit mandatory documents can lead to immediate disqualification. Ensure your package includes CSWE-accredited transcripts, active clinical state licenses, and, if you are a current federal employee, your most recent SF-50 forms.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I apply for this position if I am currently completing my MSW?

Yes. Applicants who are pending completion of their MSW or state licensure prerequisites may be referred and tentatively selected, but they must meet all requirements before their actual hire date.

Is this role eligible for telework?

This role is community-based, meaning most of your work takes place on-site or directly with Veterans in their homes and communities. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized by your supervisor on a limited, case-by-case basis, but it is not a virtual or hybrid-telework position.

What are the physical requirements of this position?

Because this role requires traveling into communities, visiting Veterans in their homes, and driving government vehicles, a pre-employment or post-employment physical examination may be required to ensure your readiness to safely perform these duties.

Does the VA offer relocation expenses for this job?

No. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and relocation incentives are not authorized for this specific vacancy in Kerrville, Texas.

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Working as a clinical social worker within the MHICM program at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System is more than a job—it is a mission. By delivering critical, community-focused care to Veterans living with severe mental illnesses, you provide safety, dignity, and recovery to those who gave so much for our country.

Combined with a competitive salary, unparalleled federal benefits, and the peaceful, high-quality lifestyle that Kerrville, Texas has to offer, this position is the ideal environment to grow your career as an impactful, clinical professional. Ensure your application is prepared and submitted before the vacancy closes on July 22, 2026.