Summary This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA ELRS program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact VISN15EDRP@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Responsibilities The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Senior Social Worker provides functional assessment, triage, intervention, education, and consultative services regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns, on referral from primary care providers and allied PACT members. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker uses population- based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domains:- Conducts functional assessments, based on 30-minute appointments, and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate. Applies principles of population-based care (defines roles and identifies problems rapidly) Uses brief assessments routinely (clinical reminders, PHQ-9, PCL, Audit C, etc.), conducts suicide assessment and safety planning for high-risk veterans Ensures equity of access to those Veterans seeking entry to PCMHI and equity of service provision and benefits to all program participants. Reports all concerns indicating cause/effect, barriers and risks, potential solutions, and any other considerations to supervisor. Views issues with a framework of process improvement and work in conjunction with supervisor and fellow team members to move to a place of persistent improvement. Actively coordinates care for Veterans with complex needs including those with high-acuity and high-risk mental health and behavioral factors with relevant providers throughout the VA medical facility and within the community at large. Assists in accessing care for Veterans who need psychiatric stabilization Focuses on functional outcomes. Maintains daily open access slots. Next available "scheduled" appointment is within two weeks. Provides brief (20-30 minutes) mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g., 1-6 session for broad range of concerns). Sessions are provided in the primary care practice area, structured so that the patient views meeting with the behavioral health provider as a routine primary care service. Uses time-limited, evidence-based interventions that are simple and concrete. Teaches self-management home-based practice interventions. Uses intermittent visit strategy and flexible patient contact strategies Provides behavioral health intervention (including but not limited to): Stress management, substance abuse/dependence, sleep hygiene, relaxation training, anger management, depression, PTSD Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team; establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems. Provides advanced case management services and demonstrates knowledge of local, state, and other VA programs and resources Possesses general knowledge of veteran's benefits and services relating to special programs, Service-connected compensation, and nonservice connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Independently identifies high-risk patients and implements appropriate safety protocols Provides crisis intervention services and has working knowledge of referral process for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and residential treatment programs. Coordinates family conferences when indicated and serves as liaison to family members. Possesses advanced working knowledge in diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of mental health diagnoses: this includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries and medical terminology. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc) Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more. Requirements Conditions of Employment NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer, all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Experience: At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience and Certifications Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification Full independent licensure at the advanced practice level At least two years should be in an area of specialized social work practice. Prefer experience working in integrated mental health settings and/or primary care teams. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
