Clarification from the agency

Open to the public which includes all US Citizens and all current permanent Federal employees from other agencies. Employees of other federal agencies and the public will be referred on separate certificates. Current, permanent VA employees should apply to: CBSY-11764508-23-AMB

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The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Exhibit a high level of skill and expertise in the work with patients and families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, psychosocial, and environmental problems.
• Use the social work process (psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment) in collaboration with interprofessional team members to develop holistic case management care plan to implement appropriate psychosocial treatment interventions and behavioral management strategies.
• Demonstrate clinical independence and serve as an active participant in the treatment planning process with the BRO Team and other interdisciplinary team members.
• As a member of the health care team, participates fully in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating and following up on the needs of the Veteran.
• Coordinate care with the interprofessional team and community contacts to promote successful disposition plans and continuity of care.
• Acts as a consultant to other team/staff members and to staff members of Community Nursing Home Program.
• Provide case management to those Veterans served by the BRO team throughout the continuum of care.
• Coordinate treatment and communicates with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans during times of transition.
• Determine local program goals and measurement of clinical and program outcomes, working independently and with consultation in the development of plans for the attainment of goals.
• Collect standardized VISN 23 BRO Team Program outcome information using standardized methodology (e.g. BRO Team templates).
• Develops a data-driven, continuous quality improvement system with established goals and outcomes to evaluate and document the program's effectiveness. S/he will assure outcome standards for the team that promote quality and efficiency of services in coordination with the overall goals of the medical center and those of the VISN. S/he will evaluate and document the program's effectiveness.
• Maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with TJC, VA, and medical center policy and procedures.
• Routinely prepare program reports for REC, facility, and VISN leadership.
• Develops policy and procedures to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC), Long Term Care Standards, and other accrediting bodies and regulatory standards as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Ad Hoc Emergency Telework May Be Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates Only
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. 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.
• 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/.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: 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

• Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade 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.
• 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. Documentation is required if part of your state's requirements for providing supervision for licensure is beyond your licensure only (example: certification of continuing education credits).
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (document with written demonstration of KSAs must be included with application, see required documents section):
  • Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring
  • Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
  • Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
  • Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  • Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 September 10, 2019

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12

Physical Requirements: Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically becomes stressful. Community visits may require the ability to drive a vehicle.

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.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.