Senior Social Worker (PCMHI) - EDRP Approved

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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Duties

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The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Senior Social Worker serves as a Co-located Collaborative Care (CCC) behavioral health consultant and provides direct care to the Primary and Specialty Care to the Veteran population at the El Paso VHA.

PCMHI is a component of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The PCMHI Senior Social Worker provides brief, evidence-based interventions, education, and consultation services to Veterans, Primary Care Providers (PCPs), Specialty Care Providers and allied PACT members. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker works collaboratively within PACT and Specialty Care to promote prevention, early identification, and treatment of most mild to moderate behavioral health and health behavior 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 meetings with the behavioral health provider as a routine primary care service. PCMHI Senior Social Workers integrate their practice into the fast-paced primary and specialty care clinic, engaging in a variety of team-based activities, including huddles, case review, consultation, and education. Direct service delivery occurs via brief, focused interventions for up to 8-10 patients daily, with a large percentage of those being seen via warm handoff within PACT to ensure same-day access. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker aids clinical program development by providing input into the program effectiveness for modification of service patterns. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker may be assigned to work with special Veteran populations with highly complex health or mental health problems.

Functional Assessment - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker completes a structured and standardized initial intake (i.e., functional assessment) with Veterans referred to PCMHI. Screening includes identification of primary difficulty, history of primary difficulty, functional assessment of difficulty, identification of lifestyle habits, goal identification, and completion of relevant assessments. In collaboration with Veteran, assessment information is analyzed to determine a subsequent treatment plan. Initial assessments are completed within 25 minutes and identified providers are added to notes as appropriate and necessary.

Follow-Up Visits : The PCMHI Senior Social Worker supports a behavior change plan or treatment target identified by the Primary Care Provider (PCP), Specialty Care Providers and/or patient, based on earlier consultation; sometimes in tandem with planned PCP visits. Specific interventions, primarily behavioral in nature, are used to achieve identified

treatment goals.

PACT Screening - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker follows clinic procedures for reviewing PACT c li n ic appointments and contacting Veterans who may be appropriate for PCMHI/MH services.

Duties are continued in the Education Section.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator at View email address on click.appcast.io for questions/assistance. Learn more

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)

Telework : This is an onsite position. Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable)

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 55385-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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 - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Education

You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification

You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

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).

Grandfather Provision. A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations :

Senior Social Worker, GS-0185-12

Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Advanced practice level social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which includes an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB . Information can be found at

Experience Requirement: You must possess at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management.

• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of Working with Veteran and/or Military Population
• Experience with crisis intervention and risk management
• Experience with Evidence-based psychotherapies
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements:

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

You must possess 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. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

NOTE : If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by CSWE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CSWE website: you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Duties Continued:

Behavioral Health Lab - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker uses the Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) software program for all direct care services (i.e., initial screenings and consultation visits). The Behavioral Health Consultant uses BHL to log assessment information and track Veteran progress across visits. The Behavioral Health Consultant also uses BHL to determine appropriate levels of care for Veterans, based on assessment data collected and dispositions offered. The Behavioral Health Consultant uses BHL to designate current and subsequent treatment plans, as well as specific treatment outcomes.

Treatment Adherence Enhancement Visits: The PCMHI Senior Social Worker assists Veterans with adhering to interventions initiated by the PCP and Specialty Care Providers. Visits focus on education, Evidenced Based Interventions, Motivational Interviewing, addressing negative beliefs, and strategies for coping with side effects.

Relapse Prevention Visits: The PCMHI Senior Social Worker works with Veterans to maintain stable functioning for engaged Veterans th a t have previously responded positively to treatment.

Behavioral Medicine Visits: The PCMHI Senior Social Worker assists Veterans in managing chronic medical conditions or tolerate invasive or uncomfortable medical procedures. Focus of visits may be on lifestyle issues or health risk factors among Veterans at risk (e.g., headache management, tobacco cessation, weight loss, tinnitus). Visits may also involve managing issues related to progressive illness.

Psychoeducational Group Visits: The PCMHI Senior Social Worker facilitates brief group interventions that either replace or supplement individual treatment and are designed to promote education and skill building/effective problem-solving.

Conjoint Consultation: The PCMHI Senior Social Worker facilitates visit with the PCP/Specialty Care and patient, designed to address an issue of concern for both.

Crisis Intervention - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will collaborate with team members to aid in identifying crisis situations and to aid in accessing care for a Veteran in need of care. This may include facilitating referrals or admission to acute, short term and/or long-term placements. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol of the Behavioral Health Service.

Referral to Service Providers - Throughout the course of treatment, the PCMHI Senior Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs for various services/programs. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker may educate the Veteran and/or caregiver concerning available services and assist them in establishing contact information with appropriate referrals, based on the Veteran's preference or that of his/her surrogate decision-maker.

Advocacy - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, PCMHI Senior Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to self-advocate, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.

Training - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker may provide staff development programs for multi-disciplinary team members within Primary and Specialty Care to include primary care providers, nursing, students, residents, interns, fellows, from other disciplines, etc. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker may provide training opportunities to assist staff in acquiring knowledge about treatments and services offered within PCMHI.

Duties are continued in the Additional Information Section.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Duties Continued:

Administrative responsibilities - The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will follow clinic and service guidelines in entering all relevant information in the electronic record, using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered into in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to ensure information on the Veteran is shared with other VA staff. This information will be reviewed on a regular basis by the PCMHI Senior Social Worker and identified others, to check for accuracy and adherence to clinic standards. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers, and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will attend all treatment team meetings, Behavioral Health Service staff meetings, relevant calls, and perform other duties as required by the Behavioral Health Service. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for his/her specific population and/or program. The PCMHI Senior Social Worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed. This may include coverage responsibilities in the absence of other staff to ensure timely access and coordination of care.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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