Summary

This fulltime social work position will work within the Primary Care Mental Health Integration program to assist in the delivery of evidence based care for primary care patients identified with a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems. The identified role is a Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) or care manager.

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
• Education: Have a 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
• 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
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker GS-11 Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39
• Preferred Experience: Experience using evidence-based psychotherapy with a wide variety of diagnostic categories.
• Experience completing suicide risk assessments.
• 2+ years clinical experience
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: Learns the use of the Behavioral Health Laboratory software program for interviewing participants
• This includes determining the appropriate level of care for treatment and the ability to understand the variety of clinic al options available through the medical center and local community
• Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments for participants
• This requires knowledge of medical terminology - diagnostic categories - and chart review
• Reviews assessments completed by others - and obtains missing information from providers - patients - and medical records
• Contacts patients through written correspondence and telephone calls - and conducts follow up interviews
• This requires substantial communication skills and the ability to remain organized
• Responds to referrals from PCPs in a timely manner
• Provides patient education in areas such as depression - anxiety and substance misuse to patients with an emphasis on health promotion and functional restoration
• Provides focused clinical interventions to Veterans
• Provides follow-up of patient progress and treatment adherence with assessments and communication with their primary care team
• If needed - assesses patients for use of appropriate telehealth devices
• Appropriately documents interventions
• Works closely PCMHI supervisor and other PCMHI staff - including supporting other PCMHI programs as needed
• Continually evaluates and revaluates patient outcomes for an individual or on an aggregate basis
• Participates in interdisciplinary teams - as needed - to improve organizational performance
• Self-directed in evaluating progress toward professional career goals
• Participates in performance improvement activities related to the service quality improvement process
• Evaluates practices of self and colleagues against standards of practice and relevant regulations (i.e
• professional SW and case management organizations - OMH - JCAHO - OSHA) and acts to improve compliance
• Conducts self in a professional manner in clinical and administrative settings
• Position requires general knowledge of regulations - policies and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51971F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized