The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center is looking for one Social Worker for the Selma, Alabama location. This individual is responsible for the implementation of social work programs. These assignments will be located at the Selma Outpatient Clinic.

Duties

Duties Include: Provides care coordination duties between Primary Care and General Mental Health, acting as a liaison between transitioning levels of care and bolstering the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) and Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) care models to firmly support the overall VHA suicide prevention effort. Coordinates care to ensure high quality mental health care delivery in primary care, targeting specific mental health diagnoses that are prevalent and treatable in that setting. Provides evidence-based, time-limited longitudinal telephone follow-up protocols for patients receiving care for mental health diagnoses in primary care who would otherwise need ongoing follow-up treatment for depression or other conditions from a provider. Utilizes a referral management protocol to provide care coordination and assure continuity of care across various levels of intensity of care. Will facilitate utilization of the BHIP Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM) to promote improved team function, decrease hospitalizations, and improved health outcomes for Veterans with complex mental health conditions. The care coordinator will be an ongoing point of contact/clinical resource, promoting Veteran engagement and self-management, maintaining regular contact, and ensuring care continuity by being involved in care transitions and collaborating with other care coordinators/managers to directly support patients' receiving timely care and identifying and addressing suicide and other risk factors. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (Full-time) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 070783 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Have a 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. 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master of social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found on the OHRM website 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). Preferred Experience: 3-5 years. Certification in Evidence-based therapies and/or substance usage treatment. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, at the GS-11 grade level the following is also required:Appointment to the GS-11 full performance grade level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree 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 in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. References: VA Handbook 5005; Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The applicant must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 US
• Name: Christie Lowery
• Phone: 205-554-2000
• Email: [email protected]