Social Worker, Mental Health

Summary

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

• 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
• 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 (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./T38
  
  Hybrid/
• If not fully licensed at an acceptable independent social work practice level - a candidate has 3 years to become fully licensed as a condition of employment
• 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:
  Knowledge of Current Professional Social Work Practices:
  To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice
• The experience or education must be post-MSW degree
• Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice - which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker - as defined by the appropriate state licensing board
• Quality of
  
  Experience:
  
  Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level
• Social Worker - GS-11: (This is the full performance level.) 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 basic requirements 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
• Assignments:
  At the full performance level GS-11 - social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work
• They are assigned to all program areas - including Medicine and Surgery - Primary and Specialty Care - Mental Health and Substance Abuse - Extended Care - Homeless Services - Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - Health Care Centers (HCCs) and other community based VA programs and clinics
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Experience working on an interdisciplinary team
• Clinical experience (i.e brief psychosocial assessments - treatment planning - brief individual and group psychotherapy) in…