Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is actively recruiting for a Social Worker to act within Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI). Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) is a component of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The PCMHI Co-located Collaborative Care Social Worker (SW) provides brief - evidence-based interventions - education - and consultation services to Veterans - Primary Care Providers (PCPs) - and allied PACT members.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position - you must meet the requirement below within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g 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)
• 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 3 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/
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification
• In all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations:GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Lifting and carrying light objects under 15 pounds - using two hands - walking for up to two hours
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination - correctable vision - hearing with or without aid - depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and emotional and mental stability.

Duties

• The Social Worker duties include - but are not limited to: Collaborates with PCPs and the interdisciplinary PACT to support high quality - effective - and coordinated service delivery at the patient and programmatic levels
• Maintains daily open access availability and encourages same day warm handoffs within PACT
• Completes most individual appointments (e.g. - 75%) within 30 minutes
• Uses Measurement Based Care (MBC) in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines for PCMHI
• Conducts initial mental and behavioral health assessments that are focused on the reason(s) for referral and are less extensive than traditional mental health intake evaluations (e.g. - 30 minutes vs
• 60 or 90 minutes for traditional evaluation)
• Supports principles to facilitate \"on-time - on target\" services to Veterans - matching the intensity of services with the level of clinical need
• Refers Veterans with more severe or complex needs to the appropriate general or specialty mental health program
• Provides time-limited - brief - evidence-based - individual or group interventions (e.g. - approximately 1-6 sessions) for a broad range of mental health and health behavior concerns within the primary care setting
• Utilizes intermittent visits and flexible patient contact strategies to support brief PCMHI care as part of PACT
• Ensures quality of care by successfully completing the national VA PCMHI Competency Training Program (or approved equivalent) and associated ongoing education modules
• Completes clear - concise progress notes that are comprehensive optimized for collaboration within PACT based on the PCMHI CCC mental and/or behavioral health assessment and follow-up visit guidelines
• Notes document important elements for team collaboration (e.g. - MBC - curbside consultation/team care discussion - liaison with specialty care providers) as appropriate
• Notes are completed same day or within 48 hours per medical center policy and guidelines
• Engages in PACT huddles and meetings to contribute to collaborative team functioning and serve as a subject matter expert for mental/behavioral health considerations
• Provides education to PACT on mental health and behavioral health issues - as well as provide education to promote effective patient communication - motivational enhancement - and behavior change
• Actively participates and contributes to routine workflow of Primary Care and seeks opportunities to offer expertise or direct patient care services to support team-based care
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability - and maintains availability for ad hoc team discussion as warranted
• Accepts and encourages same day warm handoffs
• Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral
• Works collaboratively with other team members in PCMHI (Providers with Prescribing Privileges) to ensure high quality - effective - Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels
• Work schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized