This is a fulltime position assigned to work within a Primary Care Mental Health Program as a Collocated Care Manager (also known as CoCM). The provider assigned as CoCM promotes improved team-based care and typically works in collaboration with a primary care provider as well as the PCMHI health behavior provider (CCC) and psychiatric consultant (PwPP).

Duties

Ensuring provision of veteran centered and measurement-based care is central to the duties of the CoCM. Care includes structured clinical assessments following a registry-based model, which uses validated tools and algorithms that inform treatment plans to assist in the delivery of evidence-based care for primary care Veterans identified with a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems. This includes, but is not limited to, mild-moderate depression, anxiety disorders, and substance misuse. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for completing clinical assessments of the Veteran's symptoms and function, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. He/She also reviews assessments completed by others and obtains missing information from providers and medical records. The incumbent is responsible for collaborating in the PC treatment plan for the Veteran and setting achievable S.M.A.R.T treatment goals with the Veteran/family. The incumbent will use the Behavioral Health Laboratory software program for interviewing participants. Incumbent provides consultation to Primary Care providers, other Behavioral Health clinicians and team members in the development of individual treatment plans. The incumbent will provide the Veterans, their family/significant others and caregivers with ongoing evidence based therapeutic interventions (individual, group, treatment adherence, health promotion). The incumbent is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. The incumbent is responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The incumbent act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. The incumbent is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission, short term/or long term placements including involuntary treatment when necessary. Incumbent maintains resource directories (within VA and Community) to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric crisis, the social worker will coordinate any required service with other VA Programs as well with Local Government and Community Partners in accordance with VA Policy and Law requirements. Community visits may be required in some cases to assure patient safety, to assess any psychosocial need and adequate living conditions. Incumbent provides behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and active health education as well as linkage to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. The incumbent will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for mental health services. Social worker will educate the Veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred option. The incumbent will be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of common mental health conditions seen in the Primary Care Veteran population. The incumbent must have an understanding of the diverse needs for young through older adults, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns that will help with the rehabilitation and recovery of the Veterans served. Participation in morning huddles is required. The incumbent will ensure active participation in daily team meetings and offer guidance regarding care plans and needed same day assessments. Proactive panel management of primary care patients is required, and the incumbent should have experience supporting the VICTOR teams in identifying potential referrals using the BISL tool. Responsible to work within the PCMHI workgroup, to develop a treatment plan with the VICTOR team and the Veteran based on functional assessment and following a prevention model to address health conditions. Though not a core function of this position, there may be times when the incumbent may provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. Other duties as required. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not suitable Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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/. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Preferred Experience: Providing Services within Primary Care Setting in an Integrate model.GS-12 Senior Social Workercandidates must have the following: Experience/Education: Must have at least two (2) years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in written and spoken Spanish language. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: The incumbent should have vast knowledge of and experience using the Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) to inform clinical care and have evidence of a past or current BHL clinical caseload. The incumbent assigned as the CoCM will be responsible for monitoring improvements, providing education and support, influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on-time, on target" information to primary care physicians, and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions based on the appropriate level of clinical care. Experience within the primary care setting, mainly serving as an integrated mental health (PCMHI) team member is needed. Incumbents should have completed Phase I of the PCMHI National Fidelity Training and either completed Phase 2 or be scheduled to complete Phase 2 Competency Training. Knowledge about PCMHI performance metrics (PACT21 and PCMHI7) as well as outreach initiatives in support of open access [BISL] is preferred. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

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.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Yolanda Ortiz-Davila
• Phone: (407) 631-7515
• Email: [email protected]