CRH Social Worker - Collaborative Care Manager (PCMHI)

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees. Area of Consideration: Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.2. All other VA employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The VISN Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Social Work Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) position is a VISN based position located in legacy VISN 2. This position falls under the general supervision of the VISN 2 CRH Psychology Section Chief. A Clinical Resource Hub is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN). Staff are hired by the CRH to provide interprofessional services to VISN facilities that are underserved or experiencing gaps in clinicians due to the inability to match provider supply with demand. VA Video Connect (VVC) is the primary modality for treatment, although this position may require travel to VISN medical centers or Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOC).

The PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager (PCMHI CoCM) Social Worker (SW) provides evidence-based, condition specific (e.g., depression), protocol-driven services to collaboratively assist providers in treating common mental health and health behavior concerns in primary care. PCMHI CoCM services include patient education, activation, behavioral interventions, monitoring of medication adherence and response, as well as other protocol-driven services. These services are provided by CRH to facility outpatient Primary Care settings within a collaborative, interdisciplinary model. The Social Worker will work under the Mental Health Careline

The PCMHI CoCM SW is an integral part of the CRH PCMHI team. Duties may include:

• Patient outreach and engagement in treatment
  • Patient contact may be provided via telephone and written correspondence, however face-to-face virtual care is within the scope of this position with VVC as the primary modality of care delivery
• Initial assessment of the Veteran, including the following:
  • Administration of validated patient reported outcome measure
  • Review of assessments and documentation completed by others
  • Obtain missing pertinent information from providers, patients, and medical records
  • Development of an individualized treatment plan using standardized algorithms to guide treatment recommendations and support evidence-based decision making
  • Keep current with knowledge of the variety of clinical options available through the medical center and local community about how to refer/engage Veterans
  • Review of initial assessment and treatment plan with the PCMHI Provider with Prescribing Privileges consultant and PCP, incorporating modifications of the plan as recommended
• Routine use of a patient registry as indicated
• Participation in weekly caseload consultation with the consulting PCMHI Provider with Prescribing Privileges
• Providing education and brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and other focused treatment strategies
• Monitoring of Veteran progress using validated patient reported outcome measures
• Ongoing review of progress and recommendations for changes in treatment, including medication adjustments, utilizing evidence-based algorithms in consultation with the PCMHI Provider with Prescribing Privileges
• Relapse prevention planning throughout care, including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieved
• Timely and thorough documentation of all patient interactions
• Provision of same-day access to PCMHI CoCM services
• Ongoing collaboration with and coordination of the Veteran's care with the treating PCP and other healthcare professionals
  • Influence adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines in PACT by providing "on-time, on-target" information to PACT providers
  • Function effectively within interdisciplinary teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care
• Continuously collaborate with the entire PCMHI team to ensure high quality, effective, Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels.
• Collaborate with PCMHI leadership/team members to develop/enhance educational materials and use marketing strategies to promote PCMHI CoCM services.
• Effectively communicate with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and members of the interdisciplinary team

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday ((8:00am - 4:30pm)
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Telework: May be available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

A. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

B. 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 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

C. 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/.

• 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.]
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

D. Grandfathering Provision. 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).

NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-09 Social Worker
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:

• Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies.
• 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.

GS-11 Social Worker
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:

• Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other backgrounds.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: Primary Care Mental Health Integration experience is preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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