Job Description
Summary
The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Social Worker delivers evidence based care for primary care patients identified with a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems including depression - anxiety disorders - and alcohol misuse. The primary role of this position is to provide a full range of brief - solution focused therapeutic interventions to primary care patients not currently established with a mental health provider.
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
- Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
- 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 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 (1) 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
- At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
- (a) For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - 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
- Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
- In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
- (b) A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
- (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification - making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level
- Each state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice
- Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services - and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards
- All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB
- Information can be found at
- The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work
- ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work
- The ASWB offers three examinations
- The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification - while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification
- Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application
- 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: Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
- None beyond the basic requirements
- 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
- NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
- 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
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- 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
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services
Duties
- VA Careers - Social Work: VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Independently conducts psychosocial assessments
- Utilizes the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th Edition as the basis for diagnostic impressions and conclusions
- This co-located - collaborative care (CCC) social worker position is administratively within the Behavioral Health Service Line (BHSL) - with primary assignment to the Primary Care- Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program - located within primary care
- The CCC behavioral health provider (social worker) functions as part of multidisciplinary primary care teams - and delivers brief - consultation based services to Veterans - primary care providers - and allied Patient Alliance Care Team (PACT) members
- The focus is on general service delivery for a wide range of concerns and resolving problems within the primary care service context
- Behavioral health visits are brief (generally 20-30 minutes) - limited in number (1-6 visits) - and 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
- PCMHI providers function within fast-paced primary care teams and can expect to consult with 7-10 patients per day with the primary goals of assisting PACT members with identification - treatment - and management of mental health and behavioral medicine conditions in the enrolled population
- Has working knowledge and experience in use 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
- Coordinates contact with the facility Suicide Prevention Coordinator where clinically warranted for a veteran patient under his/her care
- Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan
- Ability to evaluate incumbents own practice through professional peer review - case conferences and other organizational means
- Incumbent is able to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
- Able to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions
- Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans - their representatives - visitors - and all VA staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
- Incumbent is able to provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
- Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately
- Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing - data management and other computer systems - especially those programs in use by VHA.Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing - data management and other computer systems - especially those programs in use by VHA
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm 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)
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Holiday work, Full time, Work experience placement, Monday to Friday,