Senior Social Worker (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • Mather AFB, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker (PCMHI) provides specialized social work services in a primary care setting, with an emphasis on assessing and addressing emotional and behavioral health concerns. The role provides advanced, brief, evidence-based interventions; supports primary care providers in reducing health-risk behaviors and promoting health; and may provide direct clinical care management to an assigned patient cohort. The social worker develops person-centered, culturally sensitive treatment plans, consults with medical center staff, and provides consultation and training to Primary Care Service Line staff. The position also requires completion of clinical charting and other documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system.

This is a GS-12 position with a Monday through Friday schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on agency needs. Ad hoc telework is eligible under agency policy; the position is not virtual. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and program approval. The role requires a master's degree in social work and advanced-practice state licensure or certification, along with the specified specialized experience and demonstrated competencies.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the stated grandfathering provisions; California licenses must meet the stated California examination provision.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11, in a specialized area of social work practice.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial and/or case management.
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, use outcome evaluations to improve treatment, and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on psychosocial treatment and model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in social work and write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the service delivery area.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except where VA policy permits appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, complete onboarding and application requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university, including a defined curriculum or course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
• Applicants may qualify under the stated grandfathering provision if they are current VHA employees in this occupation and meet its criteria.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and evaluation services appropriate to primary care, particularly for emotional and behavioral problems.
• Deliver advanced interventions consistent with training and expertise, emphasizing brief, evidence-based interventions effective in primary care settings.
• Facilitate patient and family education related to primary care and presenting mental or behavioral health issues.
• Consult with primary care providers to support interventions that reduce health-risk behaviors and promote health, emphasizing prevention-oriented care.
• Support primary care provider decision-making, build on provider interventions, and improve provider-patient working relationships.
• Provide clinical care management directly to an assigned patient cohort when appropriate.
• Consult with medical center staff on patient care issues.
• Develop person-centered, culturally sensitive treatment plans for patients' mental health needs.
• Provide consultation and training to Primary Care Service Line staff on identifying and managing common mental and behavioral health disorders in primary care.
• Complete clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, potentially up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on the position and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior