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If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-11829658-23-ER. Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) is a part of the Mental Health Service Line at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. The program works together with the Primary Care Service Line to meet the health needs of Veterans. Primary duty assignment for this position is in the Primary Care Behavioral Health program located on the North Little Rock Campus. 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: Applicant must 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in behavioral health integration or PCMHI certification Licensure Must have experience providing suicide risk assessments and initial treatments for high-risk patients Demonstrated success in teamwork, collaboration, and interpersonal effectiveness especially in busy settings Commitment to continual growth in culturally competent practice Experience in treating behavioral health conditions such as chronic pain, sleep disturbance, diabetes treatment adherence, and tobacco cessation A strong background in the provision of brief, individual and group evidence-based therapies (i.e., Motivational Interviewing/Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Mindfulness and Acceptance-based interventions, Problem Solving Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain) Interest in continued development of skills and competencies in evidence-based practice in the Primary Care setting (i.e. Prolonged-Exposure in Primary Care, Problem Solving Therapy in Primary Care, Couples Therapy in Primary Care, Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) Experience providing tele-mental health services Experience and willingness to supervise and train interns and fellows Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience. None above basic requirements. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Social Worker, GS-11 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. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. 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 or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, walking (2 hours), standing (2 hours), hearing (aid permitted). The environment will be outside and inside, working closely with others, and working alone. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be reviewed and referred as they apply. The announcement will remain open until 04/28/2023 unless filled sooner. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of the Social Worker - Primary Care Behavioral Health/Mental Health Integration in Mental Health Service include but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: Incumbent is a professional social worker who assess and treats the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans. Social Work responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems often at a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of solution focused counseling with Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must complete thorough assessments determine presenting issue(s), identify factors impacting the issue(s), and potential obstacles to treatment. The incumbent provides case management services, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, to engage the Veteran and/or support system in developing a supportive framework to meet agreed upon goals for a Veteran's treatment. This may include liaison with community programs and services regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families. Services include, but are not limited to, homeless services and resources, financial resources, VA benefits, transportation services, and group work with Veterans as clinically indicated. The incumbent: - Independently works with Veterans who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues. - Independently identifies high-risk needs and prioritizes case management services. - Independently completes an appropriate (brief or comprehensive) psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their support systems. - Participates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team and with Veterans and/or their support systems to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions. - Experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, and medical terminology. - Independently implement appropriate interventions, facilitate psycho-educational classes, individual and group psychotherapy and supportive groups for Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent has knowledge of and provides interventions and treatment modalities specific to the Primary Care setting. - Utilizes evidence based protocols including but not limited to: Written Exposure Therapy, Prolonged Exposure in Primary Care, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Problem Solving Training. - Conducts cognitive screening including utilizing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and St. Louis University Mental Status exam (SLUMS) - Provides education and caregiver support to caregivers of dementia patients. - Collaborates with Veterans/support systems and the interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate VA and Community placements referrals are completed in a timely manner. - Provides consultation and education to Veterans/support systems regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. - Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans/support systems and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's healthcare planning and compliance with treatment. - Utilize principles of human growth and development over the life span and will be able to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. - Provides Advanced Directive information and education. - Performs comprehensive suicide risk screenings and assessments and develops and integrates safety planning and safety goals into the Veteran's collaborative, individualized treatment plan. - In conjunction with the healthcare team, identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Adheres to VA and mandated reporter requirements. - Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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