Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

The PCMHI LCSW provides PCMHI services to Veterans who are referred by PACT as potential candidates for mental health/behavioral health services. The PCMHI provider offers a full range of mental health services (assessment/treatment) as indicated for the primary care environment. PCMHI LCSWs support same-day access to mental health services, including crisis intervention, for Veterans as deemed necessary by the service, in person and by telephone and telehealth. Assigned Duties Screening/Assessment/Diagnosis- The clinical Social Worker conducts psychosocial/mental health assessments of Veterans independently and/or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, caregivers, and/or significant others. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting- The clinical Social Worker is responsible for the development of a patient centered treatment plan and developing achievable treatment goals with the Veteran, and when appropriate, the family members/caregivers and collaborating with all additional interdisciplinary team providers. Referral to service providers- Throughout the course of treatment, the clinical Social Worker is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The clinical Social Worker will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. The clinical Social Worker is responsible for educating the Veteran and family members/caregivers on the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision maker. Advocacy- The clinical Social Worker recognizes and understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when needed to serve the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregivers. Crisis Intervention- The clinical Social Worker will conduct clinical crisis assessments, develop and execute crisis management treatment plans in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Education/Health promotion and prevention- The clinical Social Worker provides education related to navigating the VA system, use of community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Goals of Care Conversations. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services- The clinical Social Worker will review the clinical and administrative progress notes from other providers, along with their assessments, to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran. Supportive counseling/Psychosocial Education- The clinical Social Worker will provide Veterans and their family members/caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling and psychosocial/psycho-education as appropriate in the individual group, and family setting. Evidence Based Psychotherapy- The clinical Social Worker provides individual, group, and family evidence-based psychotherapies and treatment (i.e. PST, MI, MET, CPT, PE, CBT, Seeking Safety, etc.) appropriate to level of licensure to Veterans and their families/caregivers. Record keeping- The clinical Social Worker will enter all Veteran/family contacts with the Veteran's written and verbal consent in the electronic health record using appropriate formats and templates within the designated timeframes and in accordance to policy. Collegiality- The clinical Social Worker will establish and maintain positive, professional working relationship with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA, as well as, community agencies and all other internal/external stakeholders. Administrative Responsibilities- The clinical Social Worker will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, staff meetings, supervision meetings, mental health meetings, and other committees and workgroups, as appropriate) and perform other duties as required. The clinical Social Worker will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific populations and/or program. The clinical Social Worker will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services, as needed. Other assigned duties Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:55606F, 50626F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Damaris.Alvarez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications and evaluation

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until November 23rd, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be November 2nd, 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates on November 10th, 2026 and November 23rd, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until the position(s) are filled. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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 11/23/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13098382. 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.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify),copy of licensure, SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) 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. Clinical Resume Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status SF-15 Transcript Veterans' Preference: 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. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.