Social Worker (Primary Care Mental Health Integration)

Expand Show Other JobsJob Saved Save JobSocial Worker (Primary Care Mental Health Integration)Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health AdministrationFacebook X LinkedIn ShareApplicationFirst NameLast NameEmail addressCaptcha / Bot CheckCopy from hereto hereClick to hear these letters.What is this?The application opened in a new tab.You may close this popup.By using this feature you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.DetailsPosted: 16-May-26Location: Chesapeake, VirginiaCategoriesMental Health/Social ServicesInternal Number: 869611700SummaryThis position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Health Administration - VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network - and Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It is aligned under the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Program and Behavioral Health Laboratory Hub - under the Mental Health/ Behavioral Sciences Service. Functions as part of patient aligned care teams - and delivers brief - consultation-based services to Veterans within the primary care service context.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States CitizenshipNon-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducationHave 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 accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification 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 workLicensurePersons 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 levelCurrent state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/(1) ExceptionVHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinationsThis exception only applies at the GS-9 grade levelFor the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certifiedAt 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 workerMost 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 examIn 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 levelEach state - Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practiceCopies 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 standardsAll states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWBInformation can be found at https://www.aswb.org/English Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. Â7403(f)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 LicensureNone beyond the basic requirementsDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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 goalsThis 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 proceduresThis includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuriescommon medications and their effects/side effectsand medical terminologySocial Worker - GS-11 Experience and LicensureAppointment 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 levelNOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3cOR EducationIn 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 settingDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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.eacute - 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 treatmentReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Responsibilities Provides access to clinical assessment -care - and treatment for those experiencing mental health symptoms or behavioral health issuesProvides interventions to support patients that are coping with health psychology presentations - psychosocial stressors - grief or phase of life difficulties - and mild-moderate mental health presentationsPractices collaborative - stepped and measurement-based care - to address common mental health and behavioral health conditionsFunctions successfully as a member of a team of providers and provides consultation about mental health diagnoses and appropriate treatment plansProvides cognitive screenings to address specific functional and/or cognitive ability questionsProvides education to patients - family members of patients - professional staff - and traineesCompletes thorough risk assessments and follows mental health crisis proceduresMaintains therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their familiesWill be required to work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated - medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problemsCompletes psychosocial assessments to determine the functioning and needs of Veterans and their familiesParticipates as a member of the treatment team and participates in the development and implementation of a treatment plan that focuses on strengthening a Veterans ability to address acute and chronic problemsMust provide individual and group therapyPossesses a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment proceduresFacilitates continuity of care by collaborating and providing consultation with the treatment team to promote treatment and rehabilitation in discharge planningServes as a liaison between the Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resourcesPossesses knowledge and ability to implement treatment - provide social skills training - provide patient education - and provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and familiesProvide consultation to treatment team regarding psychosocial needs of the Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the VeteransMaintains knowledge of the Veterans benefits and servicesPossesses skills and knowledge to provide case management servicesAble to utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veteran in coping with loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illnessPossesses and demonstrate ability to communicate effectivelyAdministrative Responsibilities Responsible for supporting the mission - policies - and proceduresServes on committees - work groups - and task forcesCompletes the documentary requirements in accordance with policy guidanceFollow suicide prevention guidelines and risk assessment documentation and training requirementsMindful of keeping supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the area of responsibilityWill assist in the orientation of new staffMaintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignmentPerforms other related duties as assignedWork Schedule: 8-4:30 Monday - Friday 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedCreate a Job Match for Similar JobsLogoAbout Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health AdministrationThe Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.Connections working at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health AdministrationMore Jobs from This Employerhttps://jobnet.nacsw.org/jobs/22281932/social-worker-primary-care-mental-health-integration