The Durham VA Health Care System's Primary Care/Mental Health Integration Teams (PC/MH Integration) operate within the Primary Care Clinic setting. The Social Worker provides mental health expertise and support to the Primary Care Clinic providers relative to veteran patients experiencing primarily depression and/or problem drinking behaviors.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Although, provision of evidence-based treatment for depression and problem drinking is inherent in this position, as is functioning as a member of the Primary Care/Mental Health Integration Team, triage and initial psychosocial evaluation may also occur related to other concerns such as thoughts of self-harm/suicide, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders and grief/bereavement. Veteran patients for whom brief intervention within a primary care setting are the population the Social Worker will engage in active treatment. Care will be shared with the veteran patient's primary care provider, and generally will involve care for mild to moderate depression, adjustment disorders, problem drinking and/or uncomplicated grief, with triage and referral to the Mental Health teams for more complex presentations and/or patients who present in crisis with a possible need for psychiatric hospitalization or immediate specialized mental health treatment. Functions or scope of assigned duties include but are not limited to: The Social Worker performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. The Social Worker must possess the knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. Psychotherapy will be evidence-based in nature whenever available for a particular condition and the Social Worker will utilize best practices to the extent possible in all patient care interactions. The Social Worker conducts psychosocial assessments, utilizes most current edition of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as the basis for diagnostic impressions and conclusions. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. The Social Worker possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. The Social Worker identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. The Social Worker provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members, has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. The Social Worker coordinates contact with the facility Suicide Prevention Coordinator where clinically warranted for a veteran patient under his/her care. The Social Worker establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. The Social Worker collaborates with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family therapy skills. The Social Worker will operate from a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery model of care in all veteran patient and family interactions. The Social Worker provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. The Social Worker communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. The Social Worker will possess general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, non-service-connected pension, facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Telework: May be available at the discretion of the Service Chief or equivalent Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 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 by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Exception- VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW 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 licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. OR Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Full Performance Level. This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. Preferred Experience: Clinical licensure Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team Ability to independently implement treatment modalities, and provide counseling or psychotherapy References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in moderate to high physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The Social Worker 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 Social Worker 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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Tierra White
• Phone: 919-827-2514
• Email: [email protected]