Social Worker

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration based in Washington, District of Columbia. 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: The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). Grade Determinations: Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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. 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 this grade level social worker program coordinators oversee the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program such as but not limited to: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Substance Abuse Treatment Program HomeBased Primary Care Mental Health Intensive Case Management Caregiver Support Program or Transition and Care Management Program or a combination of programs located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility. They are responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing work assignments budget treatment services provided and admission criteria for the program. The program coordinator may or may not have supervisory responsibilities. They have full responsibility for all phases of service delivery for a major specialty program. The program coordinator is responsible for the programs resource and fiscal management monitoring control points developing the annual budget operating within that budget and accounting for appropriated funds. They are administratively responsible for the programming and operations of the program assigned develop policies and procedures for program operation and prepare reports and statistics for facility VISN and national use. Program coordinators provide leadership direction orientation coaching inservice training staff development and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports including productivity. Program coordinators oversee program operations and evaluations identifying areas for improvement gathering relevant data assessing the data developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s) across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development procedures and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work setting priorities meeting multiple deadlines and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed performance evaluations and selection of staff training and recommendation of awards advancements and when appropriate disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls contracts and equipment expenditures) forecast resource and equipment needs and administer the allocated budget. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Military Health System and/or knowledge of the Veterans Health Administration. Candidates must demonstrate experience in VA and/or DoD providing care coordination or case management for post 911 Service members and Veterans with severe injuries or illnesses requiring complex care management. Experience providing enterpriselevel consultation and navigation to VA and DoD Lead Coordinators and Care Management Teams providing clinical and nonclinical assistance and advice regarding DoD VA and other Federal agencies community and other resources available to support Service members Veterans and the family or caregiver. Candidates must possess advanced practice knowledge skills and judgement as a Social Worker with a high degree of leadership independence motivation selfdirection and 1initiatives in program management activities. Indepth knowledge of the FRC program with demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and/or practice guidelines. Experience providing policy direction administrative and operational support in care management. Ability to provide training orientation consultation and guidance within area of clinical practice. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. Travel may be required. References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS0185. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS12 to GS13.

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.