Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Job Title

PCMHI Social Worker

Duties

The incumbent functions as a part of an interdisciplinary primary care team, serving Veterans, primary care providers, and allied Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members. The incumbent will also function as either a Collaborative Care Manager (CoCM) or Co-located Collaborative Care (CCC) to assist in the delivery of evidence-based care for primary care patients identified with a variety of emotional, psychiatric, and behavioral medicine concerns. These responsibilities include functional assessment, monitoring patients, providing education, intervention, and support, influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on-time, on-target" information and consultation to primary care providers, and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions.

• Screening/Assessment - Functional assessments based on 20-30-minute appointments and triage/referral to specialty care services as appropriate. Routine, brief assessments (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL, AUDIT C, etc.) as available in Behavioral Health Laboratory Software (BHL - Web, Touch, or other iterations) or Mental Health Assistant.
• Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - From screening/assessment information, the PCMHI Social Worker develops appropriate treatment goals in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the PACT. PCMHI works with the PCP's treatment plan and is not expected to write independent treatment plans that may be seen in other sections within Psychiatry Service.
• Referral to service providers - Maintains knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services when appropriate. Triaging appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services.
• Resource Usage/Development - Maintains a professional knowledge of the theories, principles and values of social work required to develop and maintain social work programs in assigned areas. Maintains state of the art capabilities in systems of service delivery to individuals, families, and groups. Exercises judgment; program planning, development, and implementation; identifies problems and the need for policy changes and program direction that should be brought to the attention of the section Program Coordinator.
• Advocacy - Participates in multi-disciplinary conferences in assigned areas. Assists Veterans and families in obtaining medical, financial, and social resources in the community that will enhance the Veteran's recovery and/or adjustments. Assesses the Veteran's and family's need for an advocate and acts on the patient and family's behalf when needed. PCMHI Social Workers must be willing to address barriers to service with and for Veterans using a broad range of psychosocial theories and principles and specific to social work values.
• Crisis Intervention - The PCMHI Social Worker will assess and intervene in crises presented by the Veteran and/or family and participate in developing crisis management and safety plans to minimize the event of future crises. PCMHI Social Workers are expected to perform risk assessments whenever the potential for self-harm is suspected, to provide information on available safety resources, and to evaluate the Veteran's ability to access necessary resources and supports. As necessary, PCMHI Social Workers are also expected to initiate intake procedures for inpatient psychiatry whenever it is deemed necessary for the Veteran's safety or for the safety of others (i.e., ED, A&R, voluntary or involuntary admission, etc.).
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - The PCMHI Social Worker will provide education to Veterans with incomplete or erroneous understanding of their mental illness and consults with physicians and other members of the clinical staff regarding patient needs in this area. Provides consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, day shift, no holidays/weekends

Compressed/Flexible

Not eligible

Telework

Eligible, within VA policy and at management discretion (AtHoc)

• An exemption for Return to Office has been submitted for review. If approved the agency will act in accordance with the determination issued. The VA will categorically exempt military spouses authorized to engage in remote work and spouses of U.S. Foreign Service members from Agency plans to return all eligible employees to in-person work instead of remote or telework arrangements. Any selected candidate must live within 50 miles of a VA Medical Center.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #

91993-A & 91994-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO)

Not Authorized