Chief Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Chief Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Tuskegee, Alabama. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

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: Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Have a masters 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 masters 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 GS0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Services. 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). Chief Social Worker GS14:Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. Candidate may have certification or other postmasters degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as Chief social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed performance evaluation selection of staff and recommendations of awards advancements and when appropriate disciplinary actions. Skill in applying legal ethical and professional standards to social work practice. Skill in developing maintaining and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections. Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership managers and other staff on social work qualification standards practice competency productivity and continuing education requirements. Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level the higherlevel duties must consist of significant scope complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25 of the time. At the GS14 grade level size scope significance and impact are greater than the GS13 grade level. The chief social worker responsibility includes management of large complex social work services within the organization. The chief social worker is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The chief social worker provides supervision to social work service with multiple sections or programs across the health care delivery system as well as an assistant chief and supervisors. Social work service includes staff members of different grades as well as multiple disciplines various treatment sites and at locations close to and distant from the medical center. The chief social worker has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice program management education human resource management and supervision of the service. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 dated September 10 2019. Physical Requirements: Light lifting under 15 pounds light carrying under 15 pounds walking (2 hours) standing (2 hours) ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4 far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other hearing (aid permitted) mental and emotional stability. Subject to dry atmospheric conditions constant noise dust working closely with others working alone.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.