Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

01Basic 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 4 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/.

02Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.

Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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.

NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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. (3) 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, educational, and other 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, 8 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G39. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0185 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 9 to GS 11 .

03Physical Requirements

Must have good manual dexterity, express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written words, view and read information on computer screens, exercise extreme control over one's own emotions in highly charged and/ or crisis situations.

The PCMHI LCSW provides PCMHI services to Veterans who are referred by PACT as potential candidates for mental health/behavioral health services. The PCMHI provider offers a full range of mental health services (assessment/treatment) as indicated for the primary care environment. PCMHI LCSWs support same-day access to mental health services, including crisis intervention, for Veterans as deemed necessary by the service, in person and by telephone and telehealth.

Assigned Duties Screening/Assessment/Diagnosis- The clinical Social Worker conducts psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and/or significant others.

Treatment Planning/Goal Setting- The clinical Social Worker is responsible for the development of a patient centered treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran, and when appropriate, the family members/caregivers and collaborating with all additional interdisciplinary team providers. Referral to service providers- Throughout the course of treatment, the clinical Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources.

The clinical Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. The clinical Social Worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers on the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision maker.

Advocacy- The clinical Social Worker recognizes and understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregivers. Crisis Intervention- The clinical Social Worker will conduct clinical crisis assessments, develop and execute crisis management treatment plans in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

Education/Health promotion and prevention- The clinical Social Worker provides education related to navigating the VA system, use of community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Goals of Care Conversations.

Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services- The clinical Social Worker will review the clinical and administrative progress notes from other providers, along with their assessments, to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran.

Supportive counseling/Psychosocial Education- The clinical Social Worker will provide Veterans and their family members/caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling and psychosocial/psycho-education as appropriate in the individual group, and family setting. Evidence Based Psychotherapy- The clinical Social Worker provides individual, group, and family evidence-based psychotherapies and treatment (i.e.

PST, MI, MET, CPT, PE, CBT, Seeking Safety, etc.) appropriate to level of licensure to Veterans and their families/caregivers. Record keeping- The clinical Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts with the Veteran's written and verbal consent in the electronic health record using appropriate formats and templates within the designated timeframes and in accordance to policy.

Collegiality- The clinical Social Worker will establish and maintain positive, professional working relationship with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA, as well as, community agencies and all other internal/external stakeholders.

Administrative Responsibilities- The clinical Social Worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, staff meetings, supervision meetings, mental health meetings, and other committees and workgroups, as appropriate) and perform other duties as required. The clinical Social Worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific populations and/or program.

The clinical Social Worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services, as needed. Other assigned duties Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:55606F, 50626F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized