Senior Social Worker - PCMHI EDRP Approved

Veterans Health Administration • Plano, TX

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker supports the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program, which provides mental and behavioral health services to Veterans in collaboration with primary care providers. Services are integrated into primary care and address mental health conditions and behavioral aspects of chronic medical conditions.

The position provides brief sessions, typically 20–30 minutes and three to six sessions, intensive case management, and psychotherapy engagement to support continuity of care and sustained mental health stabilization. The Senior Social Worker is a resource on community mental health services and helps Veterans and staff connect with supportive resources within the VA and the community.

The incumbent provides specialized assessment and treatment for mental illness, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and comorbid conditions. The role includes developing treatment plans with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary teams; providing direct clinical care and consultation; monitoring e-consults; and advising outpatient mental health teams. The incumbent also contributes to clinical practice development, policy and guideline writing, and evaluation of social work services and treatment outcomes.

This is a permanent, GS-12 position. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not authorized. The position requires a master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school and advanced-practice-level state licensure or certification. Candidates must have at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, including one year equivalent to GS-11. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and program approval.

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 level; for the Senior Social Worker role, state licensure or certification at the advanced-practice level, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, subject to the stated grandfathering provisions.
• Ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• At least two years of experience after advanced-practice clinical licensure, with one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Advanced-practice skills and judgment, including expertise in a specialized area of social work practice.
• 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 causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing methods for measuring social work practice and service effectiveness, using outcome evaluations to improve treatment and design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students and to model effective social work practice.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge and write policies, procedures, or practice guidelines for the service delivery 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.
• Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation; comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the terms described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with case management assessments and interventions.
• Experience developing treatment plans.
• Experience providing supportive therapy and psychotherapy.
• Experience working with clients living with serious mental illness.
• Experience providing brief evidence-based psychotherapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide brief, typically 20–30 minute sessions, usually over three to six sessions, and intensive case management to promote continuity of care.
• Engage Veterans in psychotherapy and provide interventions to support sustained mental health stabilization.
• Connect Veterans and staff with supportive services available through the VA and community mental health resources.
• Assess and treat mental illness, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and comorbid conditions within approved scope of practice.
• Incorporate complex multiple causation into differential diagnosis and treatment.
• Develop and implement innovative psychosocial assessment and intervention models for specialized clinical needs.
• Develop and implement methods to measure the effectiveness of social work practice and services, using outcome evaluations and evidence-based treatment modalities.
• Provide specialized assessments, treatment planning, and consultation to team members on mental health, substance use, and comorbid concerns.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Monitor e-consults, complete assessments, and make recommendations to Mental Health Division Outpatient Teams.
• Provide direct clinical care to Veterans with mental health, substance use, and comorbid concerns.
• Write policies, procedures, and practice guidelines related to the specialty population or treatment program.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential awards up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility 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 programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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