Clarification from the agency

Open to current facility employees and all current federal employees. If you are not a CURRENT federal employee, please see Job Announcement Number CBTB-11827054-23-JMM.

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Clinical Responsibilities:
- Accepts formal consultation requests and "warm handoffs" from the Primary Care Providers and conducts a full range of diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to the primary care setting, especially in the areas of general psychological evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment.
- Provides a full range of psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on brief and evidenced-based interventions found to be effective in primary care settings. Services may be delivered in a face-to-face and/or telehealth format. - Incorporates behavioral based interventions for treatment of medical disorders (e.g., pain management, smoking cessation, weight management).
- Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan within the PCMHI note template for an assigned caseload of patients including prompt completion of clinical reminders.
- Facilitates connecting Veterans with the most appropriate behavioral health services.
- Facilitates patient and family education appropriate to the primary care setting and the specific presenting mental or behavioral health issues.
- Provides consultation services to support PCP decision-making, building on PCP interventions and improving PCP-patient working relationships.
- Consults and collaborates with primary care staff, peers and supervisors on a wide variety of patient care issues.
- Provide remote PCMHI services (VVC, telephone and/or telehealth) to other community based clinics within the Carl Vinson VAMC.
- Provides consultation and training to Primary Care Service Line staff in the identification and management of common mental and behavioral health disorders that present in a primary care setting when indicated.

Administrative Responsibilities:
- Responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility.
- Participates in daily PCMHI huddle, monthly PCMHI Staff meetings, PCMHI Community of Practice Calls, and Mental Health meetings specific to Social Work Discipline and the monthly All Staff meeting.
- Engages in Primary Care meetings and activities, as appropriate.
- Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
- Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.
- Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).
- Participates in program evaluation, clinical outcomes management, and research activities, as needed.
- Mindful of keeping program manager apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility.
- Responsible for furthering one's professional growth through continuing education and for ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment.
- Provide assistance with the orientation and learning of new PCMHI staff members.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA.
- Maintain a level of productively and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards and facility standards.

Performs any other assigned duties as deemed appropriate.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education. Have a Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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. Please note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
Licensure. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations.

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).

Must pass a background check.

Grade Requirements:
GS-11 Social Worker
Assignments. This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area.
Experience, Education and Licensure. Promotion to the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR, In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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, Social Worker Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary. There is some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, manuals and records. For additional information on Physical Standards please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019. http://www.va.gov/vapubs/

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.