Senior Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, MO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Social Worker serves as an integral member of the primary care team, providing accessible, integrated, biopsychosocial health care services to patients assigned to the primary care team. Generalist and integrated mental health services are provided at Truman VA and each Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) providers are co-located with Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in Primary Care at the main facility and CBOCs. The Behavioral Health Service Line includes multidisciplinary outpatient and inpatient services.

The position performs brief comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for Veterans and family members with complex physical and behavioral disorders; assesses risk, acuity, and service needs; and completes suicide risk assessments and safety planning for Veterans in crisis. The incumbent develops and implements PCMHI clinical programming, evaluates its effectiveness, and conducts data-driven quality improvement projects. The role also coordinates care and case management for Veterans at high social or medical risk, collaborates with other treatment programs, and participates in clinical and administrative meetings and committees.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual, and telework is not available. The role is a permanent federal position at the GS-12 full performance level. It is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval; reimbursement may be up to $200,000 over one to five years. Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance are not authorized.

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.
• At least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure, in a specialized area of social work practice; one year must be equivalent to GS-11.
• Advanced practice-level state licensure or certification, including an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless covered by the applicable state grandfathering provision.
• 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 causation in 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, using 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, and/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.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation and onboarding requirements, including seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

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 an internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty.
• Experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and judgment and expertise in a specialized area of social work practice.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an integral member of the primary care team to provide accessible, integrated biopsychosocial health care services.
• Conduct brief comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments of Veterans and family members with complex physical and behavioral disorders.
• Document assessments in accordance with Medical Center and The Joint Commission documentation and timeliness standards.
• Assess high-risk factors, acuity, and service needs for Veterans with frequent or severe crises, limited support, difficulty self-monitoring or following treatment, or significant coping deficits.
• Complete comprehensive suicide risk assessments and safety planning for Veterans in crisis.
• Design, develop, and implement PCMHI clinical programming.
• Conduct ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor and improve the effectiveness of social work clinical programming.
• Liaise with other health care programs and coordinate complementary, comprehensive services.
• Direct activities to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and continuity of care.
• Provide case management to Veterans at high social or medical risk and serve as liaison to other treatment programs.
• Attend and actively participate in PACT and PCMHI team meetings and relevant administrative and informational meetings.
• Participate in Behavioral Health and/or hospital/CBOC committees and work groups as assigned.
• Represent Truman VA, VISN, and/or national committees, work groups, or task forces as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential reimbursement up to $200,000 for an approved period of one to five years, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• 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 child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility requirements.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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