Social Worker Executive

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker Executive in the Veterans Health Administration based in Leeds, Massachusetts. 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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(9) as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106419 enacted November 1 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. 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. c. 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/. d. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Work Executive GS14 Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS13 grade level. Social work executive positions are only established at facilities that do not have a chief social work service. In facilities with care/product lines the social work executive 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. Social work executive must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. Individual 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. The social work executive 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: (a) Skill in providing technical social work guidance in order to complete job assignments in multiple divisions/sections. (b) Skill in applying legal ethical and professional standards to social work practice. (c) Knowledge of social work practice policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. (d) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership care/product line managers and other staff on social work qualification standards practice competency productivity and continuing education requirements. (e) Skill in developing implementing and maintaining clinical social work practice standards in multiple divisions/sections. (f) 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 the size scope significance and impact are greater than at the GS13 social work executive level. In the absence of a social work chief GS14 grade level the social work executive is typically responsible for clinical oversight of a professional social work practice in a large program at a VHA facility. Social work executive is typically assigned to a care/product line management role at a VHA facility and has responsibility for overseeing the practice of social workers in the facility or of social workers in multiple divisions of a VHA facility. The GS14 social work executive is responsible for overseeing the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services the professional practice of all facility social workers to include participation in the selection and credentialing of social workers. The position usually includes a management role such as a care/product line manager/administrator. Preferred Experience: 1. Experienced in providing consultation to facility leadership care/product line managers and other staff on social work qualification standards practices competencies productivities and continuing education requirements. 2. Experienced in developing implementing and maintaining clinical social work practice standards in multiple sections. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS185 Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS14. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health able to sit at a desk working at a computer engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting walking bending and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands exercise patience and control emotions with reasonable accommodation if necessary without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others.

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.