Principal Duties and Responsibilities (About 80% of the time)

1. The Chief of the Behavioral Health Service/ BVAC Care Line Manager of the VA Western New York Health Care System (VAWNYHS) has administrative, professional and technical responsibility for the mental health care delivery system. The VA Medical Center is located in Buffalo, New York along with a second campus in Batavia, NY and operates seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lackawanna, Springville, Olean, Dunkirk, and Jamestown. Also supported is the Vet Center in Buffalo.
2. Behavioral Health Chief/Care Line Manager has overall clinical, management, strategic planning and supervisory responsibilities for multi-disciplinary staff assigned to the Behavioral Health Care Service/ Care Line. The Behavioral Health Care Line consists of inpatient and outpatient services in addition to specialty services that include, but are not limited to: a 15 bed inpatient psychiatric unit, 20 bed men's and 12 bed women's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Residential Rehabilitation Treatment programs, a 20 bed Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, general Outpatient Mental Health services, outpatient PTSD and SUD specialty care, Mental Health Intensive Case Management services, Homeless Veterans, HUD/VASH, Grant and Per Diem and Contract Residential services, Behavioral Medicine, Neuropsychology, Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) imbedded in both campuses and all seven CBOC's, Psychosocial Recovery and Rehabilitation services, Vocational Rehabilitation, Mobile Outreach, and Transition Care Management services. Due to the nature of the patient care services provided, program changes and new developments occur frequently. The incumbent provides leadership, coordination, and direction to the Behavioral health Care Line to achieve optimal utilization of available resources. The Chief/Care Line Manager has responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, oversight of the clinical services provided, establishing and maintaining admission criteria for the behavioral health programs, and oversight of the day to day program operations. Additionally, they may have collateral assignments determined by the needs of the local facility, the VISN and/or VACO.
3. They must evidence advanced practice skills and judgment, advanced supervisory skills, the ability to supervise a multidisciplinary staff, and program management skills and competencies consistent with the management of projects of broad scope, magnitude and complexity. They must be licensed at the advanced practice level.

1. The incumbent is a licensed, clinically privileged social worker and a member of the Medical Staff who practices at the advanced level. He/she provides direct patient care as needed including, but not necessarily limited to psychological assessment, and a full range of clinical intervention, consultation individual/group, couple and family psychotherapy.
2. He/she may supervise/teach Interns/Fellows, Externs, and other trainees, including, as needed, embracing the treatment of mental health patients, and/or mental health/administrative management.
3. May design, conduct, analyze and report relevant psychological research.
4. Performs other duties as requested or assigned.
5. Flexible shifts, and travel among VAWNYHS and VISN 2 sites, may be required to meet Behavioral Health Service and VAWNYHS management and clinical needs.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Must be licenced Social Worker
• Must have valid unrestricted driver license.

Qualifications

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: Must meet educational Qualifications.
Licensure: Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
English Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English
Experience: Must meet specialized experience requirements.

Social Worker GS-14
Experience, Education and Licensure: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator or manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level. Their experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. They 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.

Experience:
Social Worker Program Coordinators and Manager. For Social Worker Program Coordinators, grades are determined by the scope of responsibility and the type, size, and complexity of the assignment.
Chief Social Work Service. In facilities with a centralized social work department, individuals assigned as service chiefs have full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations. 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.

License: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website. LCSW required.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs below.
Social Worker Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. In-depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
2. Knowledge and skill in management/administration, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
3. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
4. Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines, and evaluate assigned program area(s).
5. Ability to provide training, orientation, consultation and guidance within clinical specialization of practice.

References: VA Handbook 5005/23 Part II Appendix G39

Physical Requirements: Work is divided between office and clinical settings, and is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. May require carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Work requires extreme patience and controlling one's emotions. The work may also require assisting physically disabled clients and may include lifting them.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.