This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Provides functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, education and consultative services regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns, on referral from primary care providers and allied PACT members. Conducts functional assessments, based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate. Applies principals of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly). Uses brief assessments routinely (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL, AUDIT C, etc.). Maintains daily open access slots. Provides brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g., 1-5 sessions for broad range of concerns). Uses time-limited, evidence-based interventions that are simple and concrete. Uses self-management/home-based practice interventions. Uses intermittent visit strategies and flexible patient contact strategies. Triages appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services. Provides behavioral medicine interventions. Writes clear concise notes, generally ½-1 page long, with explicit impression, recommendations and plan for PCP use. Routinely consults with PCPs and other PACT. Conducts effective curbside consultations. Integrates within primary care team and works closely in collaboration with PACT team. Attends PACT meetings and daily huddles. Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral. Uses warm hand off strategy. Provides education to PACT on BH issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management and patient facilitation, even when no direct patient contact. Complies with all Service Line and WCHCS documentation requirements, including timely completion of prescribed templates for documenting results of assessment, treatment, and risk evaluation contacts. Adheres to all Facility and Service Line policies and practices for delivering clinical care, including but not limited to suicide risk reduction practices, timeliness of care and access standards, professional conduct requirements, and CPRS documentation conventions. Achieves minimal clinical workload expectations as established by the Service Line. Participates as a provider in the On Call system, responding to consultation in the Emergency Department and all other hospital wards, facilitates admission to inpatient mental health unit, conducts treatment rounds on inpatient unit on weekends, evenings and holidays, and provides mental health coverage to inpatient unit on weekends, evenings and holidays. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:May be authorized at the Supervisors discretion. Telework: May be authorized at the Supervisors discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 57331-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. EDRP Authorized: Contact Jillana Martinez ([email protected]), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 31, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be February 28, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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/. Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-13 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Preferred Experience: Prefer experience in planning, establishing, implementing policies and procedures; developing program goals and objectives and monitory operating, evaluating, and coordination of daily operations of a program. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses are permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Gina Hammer
• Phone: 970-263-2800
• Email: [email protected]