Social Worker - PCMHI Co-located Collaborative Care (CCC)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fredericksburg (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Pension plan

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Fredericksburg, VA seeks a Social Worker for the PCMHI Co-located Collaborative Care program within the Central Virginia VA Health Care System.

The provider reports to Mental Health Service and works within the PCMHI component of the PACT team. Position requires MSW from CSWE-accredited school and state licensure; GS-9/11 criteria apply with demonstrated KSAs to assess psychosocial functioning, coordinate care, and deliver brief interventions to Veterans

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensure or certification required at independent practice level at GS-11 or equivalent.
• Demonstrated KSAs: community resources, psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and coordination.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial/mental health assessments with Veterans and families.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions within PCMHI.
• Coordinate discharge planning and referrals within the PACT framework.
• Maintain documentation to meet MCP/SOP and accrediting bodies.

Skills

Veteran-centric approach

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW)

Job description

Summary

The Social Worker - PCMHI Co-located Collaborative Care (CCC) works for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System in Fredericksburg - Virginia - as a direct report to the Mental Health Service - and is assigned to Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program. Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) is a component of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• 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)
• Licensure
• Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• GS-9 Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of the Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - September 10 - 2019 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker - GS-09: Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs on their resume and in their experience
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training listed below
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• If selected - you may be required to submit narrative responses then
• (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• (b) 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
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• (e) 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: Experience
• 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)
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
• providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
• providing social work case management
• acting as an advocate with community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver
• assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams
• maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals
• -OR- Education and Licensure
• 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
• You must attach additional transcripts to support this substitute
• Licensure or certification at the independent practice level is required at the GS-11 level
• -AND- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs on their resume and in their experience
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training listed below
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• If selected - you may be required to submit narrative responses then
• (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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/
• 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

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The PCMHI Co-Located Collaborative Care (PCMHI CCC) Social Worker (SW) conducts functional assessments and mental health triage and provides brief - evidence-based interventions - and education to Veterans
• The incumbent provides consultation services to PACT - serving as a mental health subject matter expert within primary care
• The incumbent works collaboratively within PACT to promote prevention - early identification - and treatment of mild to moderate mental health and health behavioral concerns as part of routine primary care
• PCMHI visits are brief (generally - 30 minutes or less) - limited in number (1-6 visits) - and structured so that the patient views meeting with the behavioral health provider as a routine primary care service
• At the GS-09 level - under supervision for clinical licensure - the Social Worker conducts psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veterans family members - caregivers - and/or significant others
• At the GS-11 level - the licensed 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
• Major Duties include but are not limited to: Adhere to Medical Center Policies - (MCP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for documentation
• Adhere to approved templates and required standards for documentation as outlined by accrediting bodies such as Joint Commission - CARF - and/or revenue sources providing funding to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
• Provide documentation sufficient to meet the needs of various interdisciplinary teams engaged in the discharge planning process both within the facility and for potential placement and/or aftercare programs/facilities
• Adhere to MCP - SOP - and directives for clinical contact with patients - families - and collateral providers over the course of treatment - which includes pre-admission - program participation - and post-discharge followup
• Provide individualize care coordination and discharge planning highlighting patient's strengths - needs - abilities - and preferences within patient interaction - Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings - along with family and collateral contacts
• Advise supervisor and IDT on identified treatment goals - priorities - and disposition options and progress
• Ensuring patients have access to care via completion of required documents - 1010s - Advanced Directive - and other forms that assist with access to care within the VA or the community
• The incumbent will participate in survey accreditation(s) ensuring standards are adhered to within their social work practice - unit/service and at the facility level as well (i.e
• infection control and safety)
• The incumbent will participate in all assigned supervisory meetings to include individual - team huddles - and will participate in both mental health and matrix - staff meetings
• The incumbent will participate in all assigned committees - work groups within or external to the facility
• Supervisory approval is required prior to working with a committee within or external to the facility
• (See business compliance regarding non-VHA committee participation)
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Additional Benefits 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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).