This position serves as the assistant service line director (Assistant Chief) for Social Work Service (SWS) at VAPSHCS. In this role, assisting the Chief, the incumbent is a full-time administrator for more than 290 interdisciplinary FTEE (including subordinate supervisors and program managers) across a broad range of program areas.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED LICENSURE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. 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 (Program Manager - Asst Chief) GS-14 Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED LICENSURE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Individual may have certification or other post-master'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 the following KSAs: Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. 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 which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; 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. Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development. Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. 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-14. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting & carrying (15-44 lbs), pushing (6 hrs), operation of a motor vehicle, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted, exposure to outside and inside, working closely with others, working alone.
The position has responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for Social Work Service. The incumbent is the second highest level professional Social Work position within the facility and shares responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers(including 50+ FTEE administratively organized outside of Social Work Service) and the provision of all social work services provided by VAPSHCS. The position requires that the employee travels to the various sites and to other VA facilities, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), or VACO as necessary. Duties will include: Responsible for working with the Chief in defining the mission and vision of the Service, developing the scope of practice for all social workers in all service lines, designing a Social Work Service Plan of Care, and assuring implementation of quality improvement measures. Responsible for developing, planning, clarifying, administering and managing Social Work Service priorities and objectives, ensuring the supervision ad evaluation of all social work staff, and is responsible for supervising and evaluating the performance of the associate chiefs, program managers, and supervisors. Serves as a liaison to other services or care lines, other facilities, VISN offices and VHA Central Office. This position also serves as liaison with Veterans Benefits Administration Offices, other government agencies, and the community. Responsible for advising management of specific clinical or administrative issues within Social Work Service and within VAPSHCS. The position serves as a consultant, mentor, and advisor to subordinates, peers, and administration. Shares responsibility for the strategic planning and operation of Social Work Service. The employee is responsible for ensuring the administrative and clinical supervision of social work staff in their professional role. Incumbent ensures the provision of social work services and/or case management services in a variety of inpatient and outpatient program areas and clinics. Assists in overseeing all professional social work activities within VAPSHCS, ensuring that educational and quality of care functions related to the psychosocial needs of Veterans are met. Responsible for making decisions regarding work problems presented by subordinate supervisors. Collaborates with others in negotiating, deciding upon and/or coordinating social work-related changes affecting other programs. Makes recommendations to the Chief on problems involving the relationship of social work activities to the various units and programs. May interact with elected officials, Veterans Service Organizations, or other partners to address identified Veteran needs or concerns. Make selections for supervisory and non-supervisory positions, hear group grievances and serious employee complaints review serious disciplinary cases (i.e., those proposing suspensions and removals), and disciplinary problems involving key employees. Consults with specialists regarding training needs and decides types of training problems related to the identified problems of the supervised wards/units. Participates in making major decisions and recommendations to the Chief affecting the basic content and character of the operations of programs. Shares responsibility with the Chief for ensuring technical program development, management and evaluation that includes assessing the mission, goals, programs and problems of the medical facility in terms of psychosocial needs of patients and establishes social work objectives to meet those needs which are consistent with medical center goals. Reviews information pertaining to the social work programs from a variety of sources (e.g., federal, state and local including Veterans Health Administration, Joint Commission, National Association of Social Workers, Society of Social Work Administrators in Health Care of the American Hospital Association, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, etc.) and identifies requirements which must be expressed in medical facility written policies and procedures, drafts such statements or assigns tasks to subordinates to ensure their completion. Develops procedures for and ensures the implementation and achievement of the provision of social work services to medical facility patients on inpatient and outpatient programs. Provides, or ensures that professional staff provides advice, assistance and consultation to community health and welfare agencies and councils and other community groups to enhance the provision of social services to Veteran patients in the community. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized