Senior Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

Summary

The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Senior Social Worker provides a full range of mental health services to Veterans enrolled in the Primary Care clinics to include diagnostic, psychological, and cognitive screening assessments; psychotherapy; psychoeducation and caregiver support; and prevention-oriented services, with an emphasis on the application of time-limited, evidence-based approaches within the North Florida / South Georgia catchment area located in Gainesville, FL.

Duties

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The North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System's Mental Health Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center. Major duties of the Senior Social Worker in these clinics include, but are not limited to :

• Individual / group evidence-based treatments to Veterans.
• Participate in a shared decision-making model of care to collaboratively determine which psychotherapy modalities are most appropriate based on the Veteran's individual and intersecting cultural factors, goals, strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences.
• Ensure appropriate documentation to include measures of effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments.
• Developing, implementing, and documenting the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt of clinical reminders.
• Delivering services both in person and via video technology.
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients.
• Actively participating in Mental Health Service Line, facility, and program meetings.
• Assisting in the ongoing process improvement initiatives of the PCMHI Training Program.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Academic / Teaching / Training :

Administrative / Program Evaluation / Outcome Measurement / Research

Other Significant Responsibilities

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule :

Monday - Friday, 8 : 00 am - 4 : 30 pm

(Note : Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility / patient care needs).

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .

Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework : Maybe Authorized

Functional Statement # : Senior Social Worker (MHC - PCMHI), FS #55575F

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 :

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

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 :

Grade Determinations . In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Senior Social Worker GS-12

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).

Preferred Experience : Previous Mental Health experience.

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005 / 120, Part II, Appendix G39, Senior Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 9 / 10 / 19, please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements : Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. The job entails walking, standing, bending, traveling among several different stories / floors, sitting, working on a computer, carrying objects.

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 to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

IMPORTANT : A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 : 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 :

Additional information

This occupation is listed on the OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration's Occupational Staffing Shortages fiscal year (FY) 2026 dated September 25, 2025. Therefore, vacancy announcement is exempt from Veterans Preference.

Receiving Service Credit or 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.