Senior Social Worker-Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration•Memphis, TN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker provides specialized social work and mental health services within Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) at the Memphis VA Medical Center or a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The role includes psychological assessment, diagnosis of mental disorders, and evidence-based treatment for Veterans, including those with complex conditions or medical conditions involving mental health components. Services may be provided in person, by telehealth, or by telephone, including same-day access and brief treatment, referral management, and telephone-based monitoring when appropriate. The social worker guides care for referred Veterans through completion or integration into specialty mental health services. The position also provides education to patients, families, and significant others; consultation to PACT staff, VA care providers, CBOCs, and community providers; and clinical supervision and instruction for interns and post-doctoral fellows. The Senior Social Worker works independently with full clinical privileges and professional responsibility for clinical assessments, care decisions, and documentation. The role includes leadership, training, community coordination, and other duties as assigned.

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.
For the Senior Social Worker GS-12 grade: at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11.
Advanced-practice state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, and ability to provide supervision for licensure.
Skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management.
Ability to incorporate complex multiple causes into differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Knowledge of developing and implementing methods to measure 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 and model effective social work practice.
Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines related to the service area.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Registration with Selective Service for males born after 12/31/1959.
Successful completion of background/security investigation and required onboarding and application requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Completion of a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification requirements.

Nice To Haves

Certification or post-master's training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university in a specialty area, including a defined curriculum and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience.
Higher or unique qualifications may be considered when setting pay; a higher step rate may be determined for highly qualified candidates.
EDRP eligibility may be available to eligible candidates, subject to program requirements and approval.

Responsibilities

Provide psychological assessments in the primary care setting and diagnose mental disorders, including complex cases and conditions with mental health components.
Support same-day access to mental health services in person, by telehealth, or by telephone.
Determine enrollment in BHL telephone services and PCMHI dispositions such as brief therapy and referral management.
Guide mental health care for referred Veterans through completion or integration into specialty mental health care.
Educate patients with mental or behavioral health concerns, their families, and significant others.
Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy, including interventions such as Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Consult with PACT staff, VA Medical Center and CBOC care providers, and community providers on assessment findings and treatment plans.
Function independently as a clinical social worker and take professional responsibility for assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
Promote social work services as a key component of treatment in the assigned program.
Organize community services for beneficiaries and coordinate procedures for staff use of those services.
Develop working relationships with organizations serving the same patient population.
Provide clinical supervision and instruction to interns and post-doctoral fellows in behavioral health and social services.
Teach mental health topics to community organizations and provide leadership, coaching, orientation, training, staff development, and continuing education for assigned social work staff.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), potentially up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, subject to the stated conditions.
Child care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other limits.
Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
Recruitment/relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Permanent Change of Station relocation assistance may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.