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Social Worker (Clinical)
- Defense Health Agency (Tacoma, WA)
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Overview
Social Worker (Clinical)
**About the Position:** This position is located in the Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Medicine,Tacoma, Washington. T
Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sound, in Washington State, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is near the city of Lakewood, 10 minutes from Tacoma and 20 minutes from Olympia, the state capitol. JBLM is situated in a key location along Interstate 5, allowing easy access to Seattle, Tacoma, and the welcoming neighboring communities. Although the Army and Air Force missions have changed over the years, one thing has not changed—the natural setting of the base. Majestic Mount Rainier looms on the horizon, towering over the other peaks of the Cascade Range. From the mountains to the deep waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, the local areas abound in natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and new sports are a way of life in Washington State.
This is a Direct Hire Solicitation
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
1. 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.
2. 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.)
3. 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 isin this document (https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr\_public?id=kb\_article&sysparm\_article=KB0016283) .
**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)
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/ .
Apply for this Job Online (https://careers-civilianmedicaljobs.icims.com/jobs/9009/social-worker-%28clinical%29/job?mode=apply&apply=yes&in\_iframe=1&hashed=-336268516)
**Location** _US-WA-TACOMA_
**Job ID** _2025-9009_
**\# Positions** _2_
**Category** _Behavioral Health_
**Salary Range** _Competitive_
**Recruitment Bonus** _Negotiable_
**Relocation Assistance** _Negotiable_
**Student Loan Repayment** _Negotiable_
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