SOCIAL WORKER (CLINICAL) at Defense Health Agency

Overview

Social Worker (Clinical)

About This Position

• This is a Direct Hire Solicitation
  
  

Fort Carson, CO: Located just south of Colorado Springs, Ft. Carson combines scenic beauty, pleasant residential areas, and cultural activities to satisfy every taste. It is an unusually well-rounded military community which offers a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities. World-class ski resorts are available within a short 2 1/2 hour drive, golf courses and biking trails are available on the installation as well as in the surrounding community. Numerous colleges and universities are available for continuing education.

Working for the Department of War comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Responsibilities

MAJOR DUTIES

• Patient Care and Documentation
  
  

Functions as a full-time integrated team member in the primary care clinic using the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model of service delivery. Screens and assesses patients, and performs PCBH model appropriate biopsychosocial evaluations using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to clinical, clinical health, and primary care psychology. Provides targeted assessment and evaluation of functional status focused in the context of the presenting problem. Conducts brief assessments and formulates evidence-based interventions appropriate to a primary care setting for a wide range of behavioral health conditions, chronic medical conditions, and health behaviors affecting medical conditions. Provides evaluation, intervention and relapse prevention services in appointments lasting no more than 30 minutes for initial and follow-up visits. Uses a stepped-care approach to maximize delivery of care within the PCMH. Triage and refers patients to Specialty Behavioral Health Care when services required exceed the BHC scope of practice. Assists with implementation and monitoring of treatment plans with Primary Care Managers (PCMs) and other primary care team members. Use objective and measurable outcomes to evaluate treatment effectiveness and make adjustments if appropriate for increased adherence and efficacy. Provide high level expertise in human behavior as a primary care team member to develop and support specific clinical pathways or best practice programs for targeted patient groups (e.g., patients with acute stress symptoms, chronic medical conditions, insomnia). Provides concise documentation of care and recommendations in patient’s medical record beginning in the appointment and completed in no more than 72 hours after the patient is seen.

• Consultation and Team Based Care
  
  

Provides timely and succinct feedback to PCMs regarding consultation findings and recommendations as directed by the current DHA PCBH Administrative Instruction and DHA Procedures Manual. Determines if patient is appropriate to receive PCBH model services in the primary care setting. Provides ongoing consultation services for a subset of patients who would benefit from periodic, regular behavioral health monitoring and intervention for sustaining improvement and preventing relapse (i.e., continuity consultation). Participates in all PCMH activities to include huddles, provider meetings, peer review, and trainings. Actively works with PCMH team to identify patients who are appropriate for BHC services and facilitates processes to increase same-day “warm handoff” of patients from PCMs to BHC. Works to increase overall penetration into the enrolled clinic population by targeting common conditions with behavioral components that are amenable to BHC intervention. Performs daily activities to increase BHC clinical productivity (e.g. scrubbing PCM appointment lists, circulating in the clinic and interacting with staff, being vocal in morning huddles etc.)

• Educational Activities
  
  

Develops, teaches, and provides oversight for classes that promote education and skill-building to enhance psychological and physical health, and promote behavioral change related to improved health status. Conducts trainings for the primary care clinic to increase referrals and promote understanding of the role of the BHC.

Performs Other Duties As Assigned.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

Individual Occupational Requirement for Social Worker: Degree: Master's degree (or higher degree) in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. (NOTE: You must attach copy of your transcripts)

Requirements

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience:One year of specialized experience which includes conducting bio-psychosocial evaluations of behavioral health patients, providing individual or group clinical counseling, and developing behavioral health treatment plans or recommendations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

Selective Place Factor Requirement

Licensure: A current, active, valid, unrestricted clinical license to practice Social Work independently, offered by a U.S. State, District of Columbia, commonwealth, territory or jurisdiction. (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your license)

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ .