This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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 106-419, 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 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. c. 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/. (c) Different states have different levels of licensure or certification, making it difficult for VHA staff to determine the independent practice level. Each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the level of licensure or certification allowing independent practice. Copies of the surveys are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management and Social Work Services, and a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure or certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether the social worker's level of licensure or certification meets the VHA qualification standards. All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB. Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/. The ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work. ASWB develops and maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work. The ASWB offers three examinations. The master's examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure or certification, while the advanced generalist and the clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure or certification. Differences between the master's and the advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers will have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory and its application. (3) 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. 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 Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 (1) Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade 13 level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate 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. (2) Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. \ (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. (d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. (4) Assignments. 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. Program coordinators at the GS12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program. The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area. The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They provide 14 leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They 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.]
The Assistant Program Coordinator serves as a social worker for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) at the Brockton campus. The incumbent performs and helps to manage intensive specialized, recovery oriented treatment of Veterans with complex serious mental health conditions. The psychosocial rehabilitation services that this position provides target: engagement or re-engagement in self-chosen community; assessment of needs, strengths, and barriers; and goal setting/ treatment planning. Clinical and recovery-based interventions include a variety of evidence-based and innovative group treatments and activities, individual psychotherapy, supportive counseling, case management (typically on-site), family consultation/treatment, development of community supports, and fostering a vital recovery-based program environment. The incumbent is also responsible for program intakes, outreach, program evaluation, and key projects s related to planning, program development, implementation of policies and procedures, and program accreditation. - Participates in and contributes to team meetings regarding Veteran selection, collaborative determination of treatment plans and goals, progress evaluations, discharge planning, and aftercare. - Works assertively and consistently with inpatient teams around admission and discharge planning offering consultation regarding clinical needs, treatment plans, and continued access to PRRC psychosocial rehabilitation treatment services. Provides ongoing outreach through 'bridge groups' to continually maintain access for all interested referrals and strengthens the role of the PRRC as a viable alternative to inpatient admission through program development and outreach to Veterans who need more intensive treatment to avert inpatient admission. - Engages in data collection for outcome and program evaluation purposes, including assisting with documentation/chart reviews and program task organization relevant to JC and CARF reviews, standards, and accreditation. - Completes clinical documentation according to PRRC and Medical Center standards. Documentation includes but is not limited to risk assessments, interdisciplinary treatment plans, electronic progress notes, consent forms, advance directives, measurement-based care notes, and submission of NEPEC program evaluation forms. - Works with other clinical programs and services that share in the care of assigned PRRC Veterans, both within and outside the Mental Health Care/ICIRT. Organizes and leads assigned Veteran care planning meetings with all stakeholders consistent with the Recovery Model. In pursuit of programmatic and treatment goals, maintains effective working relationships and services as a liaison with other professional and administrative personnel both with the Medical Center and in the community. - Documents any problem areas concerning implementation of the program and own activities within the program and makes suggestions for resolving any such problems consistent with PRRC and Medical Center policies and procedures. - Meets with relevant personnel representing resources within VA, community, and professional organizations as needed to carry out assigned development and implementation responsibilities. Contacts also include, but are not limited to, representing the program by screening veterans served for participation in any aspects of the program. - Interprets trends and patterns, and makes recommendations for program enhancements, including regarding the application of guidelines, policies, and best practices. Performs program analysis, evaluation, development, and review and design of clinical offerings. As needed, collects clinical data for use in the scientific evaluation of PRRC under the supervision of the PRRC Program Manager, using protocols developed by the PRRC Program. - Fulfills ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues, and VA in accordance with NASW Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information. - Assistant Program Manager: covers for the PRRC Program Manager both clinically and administratively, when needed. When needed, provides supervision for unlicensed and adjunctive staff both formally and informally. Assists, as assigned, with monitoring of clinic utilization, program support activities, task completion, and program flow, including orientation of new veterans, and program discharges. Assists in monitoring program effectiveness, efficiency, access, and satisfaction. Work Schedule: M-F 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement: F523-1831 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more