The Primary Care Mental Health Integration Social Worker provides services in the Mental Health Service with assignment as a Primary Care Mental Health Integration Social Worker, Therapist. This is one of the functional units providing psychological services to the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS). The incumbent has primary assignment in the support of behavioral health services to primary care patients as part of the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Program. Applicants 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 Requirements: United States Citizenship: Applicants must be United States Citizen as required by 38. U.S.C. 7402 [NOTE: When it is not possible to recruit qualified United States Citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the United States Citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Applicants must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned.]. English Language Proficiency: Applicants appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).]. Education Requirement: 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. Verification 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 work. Licensure: Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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 they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. (1) 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet one of the grade determinations below.GS-9 Grade Level: Experience, Education, Licensure/Certification: None beyond the basic requirements above; AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must demonstrate all of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: 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 Grade Level: Experience: 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; AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, applicants must demonstrate all of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: 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, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated September 10, 2019. 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-9 to GS-11. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ["The incumbent serves as a fully qualified Social Worker in the Primary Mental Health Section of with assignment as a PCMHI Therapist. This is one of the functional units providing psychological services to the Mental Health Service/Eastern Colorado Health Care System. The incumbent has primary assignment in the support of behavioral health services to primary care patients as part of the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Program. The duties, include but are not limited to: Performs evaluations for patient conditions that include depression, anxiety, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning. The assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence based models of care. Conducts assessment appropriate to individual patient with attention to on the implications of test results for a veteran's every day, real-world function and successful treatment/management of mental health problems and other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and pain. Provides brief, structured psychotherapy and counseling. Consults to ambulatory care staff and primary care providers on a wide variety of patient care issues pertinent to medical treatment and psychosocial recovery. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for patients including assessing adjustment to illness/injury, coping style and its effectiveness, and the contribution of medical condition to current emotional functioning and vice versa; provides recommendations to primary care providers; develops treatment plans and recommendations, including referral to Mental Health Clinic Programs when indicated, to achieve goals of psychosocial rehabilitation. Consults with other medical center staff on patient care issues pertinent to medical treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation. Assumes responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: May be available at the supervisor's discretion and the needs of the service. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-52920-A and 554-52921-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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