This position is located in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program. This position is aligned under the Outpatient Social Work Service. This position reports directly to the Chief, Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs who reports to the Chief of Social Work Services.
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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. 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 (Assistant Chief), GS-12 Experience: Individuals assigned as assistant service chiefs must have the equivalent of at least one year of creditable experience comparable to the GS-11 grade level. The assistant service chief 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. Candidates may have certification or other postmaster's 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of administrative and supervisory duties, which includes personnel actions, clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement. Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to social work practice.. Ability to develop, maintain, and oversee social work programs in all settings. This includes identifying needs for social work assessment, evaluation, and treatment; determining priority needs for social work services; and recommending adjustments to staffing levels accordingly. Demonstrated global knowledge of social work practice in health care and mental health settings including resources, and the policies and procedures pertaining to home and community-based care, acute care, ambulatory care, long term care, performance measures, and clinical guidelines. Ability to provide consultation to care line managers and other staff on social work qualification standards, social work practice, social work competency, social work productivity, and social work continuing education. Ability to provide supervision for social work licensure and practice supervision for facility social workers. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This position is restricted to those serving as a full assistant to the chief social work service for both administrative and professional practice. At the GS-12 grade level, individuals are typically assigned as an assistant chief of a small to moderately complex social work service within the organization. While the chief has full management and supervisory responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for the social work program, the assistant chief is responsible for supporting these functions per the direction of the chief. In the absence of the social work chief, the assistant chief has full management and supervisory responsibility of the social work program. Such facilities may offer specialty care and services and may be affiliated with academic institutions. Typically, there are no subordinate supervisory social workers at the facility. Preferred Experience: Have residential care background. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocated boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to the physical inspections of the facilities.
Duties Include: Assists in developing program policies, goals and objectives consistent with the mission of the Domiciliary Program. This includes identifying areas requiring administrative and professional review, the drafting and monitoring of service goals, and preparing follow-up reports. Coordinates and directs administrative, program planning, and clinical meetings which ensure effective communication, proper functioning and accountability of the service. Ensures that appropriate documentation is maintained for programmatic and administrative measures. Assists in the development and maintenance of the high quality public relations program for the Domiciliary. Serves as a representative for the Domiciliary, and for the Chief, as needed. Investigates, develops and prepares responses to inquiries from members of congressional, VISN, VACO and service organizations in regard to former or current Domiciliary residents or applicants. Initiates any required or appropriate actions to resolve complaints and problems related to such inquiries. Assists the Chief in investigating and handling complaints, grievances, and other concerns relevant to the welfare of the service by gathering facts and making preliminary reports. Has the authority to make decisions and take corrective action when necessary. Maintains primary responsibility for the hiring and training of new employees and orientation of new residents. Responsible for helping maintaining the Domiciliary budget, equipment inventory, purchasing and ordering. Provides direct, first-line supervision of Domiciliary coverage staff, coordinating schedules and personnel activities including hiring and adverse actions. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.