Summary
The PCMHI Co-located, Collaborative Care Senior Social Worker position is administratively aligned within the Birmingham Mental Health Service Line, with primary assignment to the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration program, located within primary care. The PCMHI CCC Senior Social Worker functions as part of a multidisciplinary primary care team, and delivers brief, consultation- based services to Veterans, primary care providers, and allied Patient Aligned Care Team members.
Duties
SUD-Specific Clinical Practice & Interdisciplinary Consultation
- Participate in PACT huddles, meetings, and/or other functions to represent and champion SUD-specific care considerations within primary care.
- Enhance transitions between PACT and Specialty SUD clinics.
- Promote engagement of Veterans with substance misuse who may be reluctant to begin care within PCMHI or Specialty SUD services.
- Increase PACT, Veteran, and family/caregiver awareness of SUD-related community resources.
- Assist PACT in streamlining procedures for standard screening (e.g., AUD-C) and referral (e.g., same day warm handoffs).
- Utilize proactive patient identification and outreach activities related to substance misuse for the PACT population.
- Provide education and training to PACT about SUD recovery and interventions.
- Offer formal or curbside consultation regarding the treatment of SUD within primary care.
- Support and/or deliver PCMHI Collaborative Care Management for Veterans with substance misuse concerns.
- Deliver SUD-specific, brief, evidence-based, individual or group interventions appropriate for the PACT setting and in collaboration with PCPs.
- Support Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Clinical Practice Guideline-concordant care of SUD within primary care.
PCMHI CCC Clinical Practice Management
- Collaborates with PCPs and the interdisciplinary PACT to support high quality, effective, and coordinated service delivery at the patient and programmatic levels
- Maintains daily open access slots and encourages same day warm handoffs within PACT
- Completes most individual appointments (e.g., 75%) within 30 minutes
- Uses Measurement Based Care (MBC) in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines for PCMHI
- Conducts initial functional assessments that are focused on the main reason(s) for referral and are less extensive than traditional mental health intake evaluations (e.g., 30 minutes vs. 60 or 90 minutes).
- Supports Stepped-Care principles and refers Veterans with more severe or complex needs to the appropriate general or specialty mental health program
- Provides time-limited, brief, evidence-based, individual or group interventions (e.g., approximately 1-6 sessions) for a broad range of mental health and health behavior concerns within the primary care setting
- Utilizes intermittent visits and flexible patient contact strategies to support brief but longitudinal PCMHI care as part of PACT
- Ensures quality of care by successfully completing the national VA PCMHI Competency Training Program (or approved equivalent) and associated ongoing education modules
Documentation Skills
- Writes clear, concise notes that are optimized for collaboration within PACT based on the PCMHI CCC functional assessment and follow-up visit guidelines
- Notes document important elements for team collaboration (e.g., MBC, curbside consultation/team care discussion, liaison with specialty care providers) as appropriate
- Notes are completed same day or within 24 hours
Consultation and Interdisciplinary Team Based Skills
- Provides education to PACT on mental health and health behavior issues, as well as tips to promote effective patient communication, motivational enhancement, and behavior change
- Integrates self into routine workflow of Primary Care and seeks opportunities to offer expertise or direct patient care services to support team-based care
- Tolerates interruptions, demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, and maintains availability for ad hoc team discussion
- Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral
- Works collaboratively with other team members in PCMHI to ensure high quality, effective, Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels
Administrative Responsibilities
- Shares responsibility for the coordination of clinical operations within the PCMHI team.
- Assists in the design, development, and implementation of clinical assessment and/or intervention programs.
- Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team.
- Assists in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.
- Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
- Complies with national and local performance measures and facilitates organizational success on these measures at the team level.
- Complies with all Facility and Service Line policies and expectations concerning administrative practices.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available.
Travel: None.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other 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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a C.V. and/or resume. Other documents may be requested later in the process if needed.
Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/06/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12736588.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.