Career Center

This position is located in Las Cruces, NM and El Paso HCS. The PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager (PCMHI CoCM) Social Worker provides evidence-based, condition specific (e.g., depression), protocol-driven services to collaboratively assist PACT providers in treating common mental health and health behavioral concerns in primary care. Services include patient education, activation, behavioral interventions, monitoring of medication adherence and response, as well as other protocol-driven services. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. In states such as California, Washington, and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years, social workers must become licensed at the independent, master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.or.9/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application. 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. 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). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations 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. 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. Qualification information continued under Additional Information Section ["The PCMHI CoCM SW is an integral part of the PCMHI team. Duties include:\n- Patient outreach and engagement in treatment Patient contact is frequently provided face-to-face, virtually, via phone and written forms of communication. - Initial assessment of the Veteran, including the following: Administration of validated patient reported outcome measures. 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 standardization 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 to refer/engage Veterans. Review of initial assessment and treatment plan with the PCMHI LIP and PCP, incorporating modifications of the plan as recommended. - Routine use of patient registry, including: Entry of all Veterans receiving PCMHI CoCM into a registry (e.g., Behavioral Health Lab software). Use of a registry to ensure patient follow-up, track engagement in PCMHI, CoCM protocols, and monitor treatment response. Run patient registry reports to facilitate care provision and to monitor quality of care. - Participation in weekly caseload consultation with the consulting PCMHI LIP Actively seek out additional ad-hoc consultation as clinically indicated. - Providing education and brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and other focused treatment strategies.\n- Monitoring of Veteran progress using validated patient reported outcome measures.\n- Ongoing review of progress and recommendations for changes in treatment, including medication adjustments, utilizing evidence-based algorithms in consultation with the PCMHI LIP\n- Relapse prevention planning throughout care, including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieved.\n- Timely and thorough documentation of all patient interactions\n- Provision of same-day access to PCMHI CoCM services\n- 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 share 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\n- Collaborate with PCMHI leadership/team members to develop/enhance educational materials and use marketing strategies to promote PCMHI CoCM services.\n- Effectively communicate with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and members of the interdisciplinary team. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: May be available at the discretion of the selecting official\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]