Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS)

Employer of Choice

Mission of Veterans Health Administration

• 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 nations’ health care workers.
• Supply medical care to the Department of Defense in war or national emergencies.

Mission of VA Social Work

The mission of VA Social Work is to eliminate psychosocial complications as significant barriers to healthcare interventions for veterans and families. This is accomplished by developing and maintaining integrated quality programs in patient care, research, education and prevention.

Vision

In return for the investment of veterans’ trust and institutional support, VA Social Work will provide the foremost leadership in the psychosocial care of veterans and their families.

Values

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

This is our commitment:

• To place at the center of our concern the dignity and worth of the individual.
• To incorporate into practice an understanding of the veteran within his or her family and sociocultural environment.
• To value and respect the distinctive role and expertise of each member of the interdisciplinary team.
• To identify gaps in service/resources and to advocate for systems changes those are responsive to veterans’ changing needs.
• To create within the discipline a learning environment that fosters new knowledge, enhances clinical social work practice and promotes administrative excellence.
• To be ethical in fulfilling our responsibilities.
• To be conscientious stewards of institutional and community resources essential to our mission.

History of VHA Social Work

Veterans Bureau General Order dated June 16, 1926, established the social work program in the Veterans Bureau, outlining its organization and functions. The first year staffing consisted of 36 social workers. Today, VHA employs over 3,800 Master’s prepared social workers.

Clinical Social Workers

Social workers utilize social casework; social group work and other major treatment modalities in helping patients and their families handle the social, emotional, environmental, cultural, and economic pressures influencing continuity of family/community life during periods of illness and stress. The VA Social Worker participates with other professional disciplines in synthesizing and maximizing rehabilitation goals.

VA Social Workers Program Involvement

* Health Care For Homeless Veterans
* Domiciliary Care
* Physical & Rehabilitation Services
* Geriatrics & Extended Care
* Substance Abuse
* Spinal Cord Injury
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Primary Care
* Mental Health
* Medical/Surgical
* Home-Based Primary Care
* Homemaker/Home Health Aide
* Community Nursing Home
* Community Residential Care
* Community Support/Mental Health Intensive Case Management
* Community Re-Entry (for incarcerated veterans)
* Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment
* Day Treatment Centers
* Visually Impaired Service Team
* Women’s Health

VA Social Worker Career Benefits

• Generous Leave and Holidays
• Health, Life, and Long Term Care insurance plans
• Excellent Retirement Plan
• Mobility Opportunities
• Continuing Social Work education opportunities

Additional Benefits from VA Employment

• Child care services at some facilities
• Family Friendly Work place
• Employee Health
• Employee Wellness Program
• Employee Associations
• On-site Dining Facilities and Retail Stores
• On-site Credit Union
• Free parking at most facilities
• Smoke free work place

Career Opportunities

* Research
* Social Work Field Instruction
* Relationships with local School of Social Work Graduate Education Programs.
* Partnerships with Community Agencies.

Employee Diversity and Special Emphasis Programs

• Asian American and Pacific Islanders
• African American
• Hispanic
• Native American
• People with Disabilities
• Federal Women

Succession Planning Opportunities

* Social Work and VHA Mentoring Program
* Opportunities for membership on National Social Work Committees
* Opportunities for Career Advancement Nationwide
* Leadership Training Programs

Opportunities for Graduate Level Field Placements

The Veterans Administration is affiliated with over 100 Graduate Schools of Social Work, and operates the largest and most comprehensive clinical training program for social work students – training approximately 600-700 students per year.
As a leader in this area, VA has a major impact on health care social work curriculum, establishing and applying standards for social work clinical practice, and expanding the roles and functions of the clinical social worker in interdisciplinary team practicing health care service delivery.

The Learner's Perception Survey measured trainee perceptions of their clinical training experience in VA medical centers.   Here is a synopsis of the results of the survey of social work trainees.

How to apply for a Social Work position in the Department of Veterans Affairs

Applicants may contact the Human Resource Management Office at the facility where they desire employment for information about local opportunities and application procedures.
Telephone numbers for VA facilities can be found in local directories under “United States Government.”
Contact numbers and facility locator can be found at www.va.gov. Click on “Health”, then “VHA Facilities Locator” on the left side bar.
Applicants can also search the internet at www.usajobs.opm.gov