Social Worker Service Chief

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker Service Chief in the Veterans Health Administration based in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g this part). 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/. 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: Social Worker (Service Chief) GS13 (1) Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS12 grade level. The chief social work service 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. 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. Specialized Experience: Supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate sized professional and nonprofessional staff including support staff and professional staff at the GS12 grade level and below. The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service in a care/product line or multiple facilities. They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities. (2) Licensure/Certification. Individual must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in administrative and supervisory duties which includes personnel actions clinical supervision consultation negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. (b) Skill in applying legal ethical and professional standards applicable to social work practice. (c) Skill in developing maintaining and managing social work services in all settings. (d) Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. (e) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership managers and other staff on social work qualification standards practice competency productivity and continuing education requirements. Preferred Experience: The chief social work at this level typically has responsibility for management of small to moderately complex social work service within the organization. The chief social work service 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 work provides supervision to social work service staff members of different grades. Supervision may include multiple disciplines treatment sites that are limited and in close proximity to the medical center and programs are with limited administrative oversite responsibility. The chief social work 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 Social Worker Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting bending stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities operation of a motor vehicle with a valid drivers license is required. The incumbent must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008020. It may be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans family members representatives of community health welfare and law enforcement agencies.

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.