Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens and current Permanent VA and Federal Employees

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VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

The Supervisor is responsible for the professional and administrative management of the Acute Care (Internal Medical, Surgical Services and Intensive Care Unit) and Emergency Department (ED) program in Social Work Service. They provide direct clinical services with program coordination responsibilities.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

1. Provides direct clinical services with program coordination responsibilities.
2. Expands clinical knowledge in the profession, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers, develop innovations in practice interventions and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Work with special patient populations with highly complex health or mental health problems, and to provide clinical supervision to social work staff on similarly complex cases.
3. Assumes supervisory and administrative responsibility for the assigned social work staff that function within the Acute Care and ED programs within Social Work Services and responsible for all performance measures. The incumbent ensures the staff they supervise are aware of, adhere to all current directives of VHA, and meet current Joint Commission standards, State licensure standards, and VA-OIG expectations. The incumbent will conduct ongoing intensive reviews and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies and applicable directives.
4. Takes programmatic responsibility and oversight for the Acute Care and ED social work program. The incumbent performs work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of various programs. Has administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. Plans, establishes, and implements policies and procedures; develops individual or group goals and objectives as well as monitors, operates, evaluates, coordinates and oversees the Social Work staff of the assigned programs.
5. Conducts a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to State, local, and private agencies.
6. Performs program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.).
7. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor and Social Work Program Manager, and/or Designee.
8. Provides education to Veterans and families related to VA benefits and services, community resources, entitlements, and completion of Advanced Directives/Living Will. The incumbent refers Veterans and families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified care needs.
9. Manages assigned patient care duties as directed, completing clinical notes and encounters in a timely manner as defined by local and national documentation guidelines. Intervenes with appropriate individuals, departments, agencies regarding delays in service that have an impact on quality of patient care, length of stay or inappropriate patient admissions. Works in collaboration with assigned nurse case manager when appropriate.
10. Provides treatment intervention in collaboration with the Veteran and family, interdisciplinary treatment team, and community members. The incumbent possesses knowledge and ability to implement treatment modalities and provide supportive counseling for individuals, families, and groups. The incumbent understands the range of treatment and skills for adult patients related to illness or chronic medical conditions, psychological needs, and age-associated conditions.
11. Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agency programs. The incumbent provides education to community care partners regarding general VA benefits and services during care coordination for Veterans.
12. Facilitates referrals and applications for benefits based upon Veterans needs and eligibility.
13. Provides assistance with the orientation for new social workers working within the Comprehensive Social Services Service Line but providing Behavioral Health services, and, if interested, to serve as a preceptor for social work interns/students.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm with on call rotation
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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

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: Be a citizen of the United States; 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).

Supervisory Social Worker, GS-0185-13 Grade Determination:

Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. 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 Supervisory Social Workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
2. Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
3. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers.
4. Ability to delegate authority, manage priorities, coordinate work, and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion.
5. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems, develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations, and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service.
6. Ability to provide staff training and development.

Preferred Experience:

• One year Social Worker experience within Emergency Department preferred and/or
• One year Social Worker experience within Acute Care experience preferred and/or
• One year Social Worker supervisory experience preferred

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Traveling throughout the medical center and the community as required, performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files.

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, resume, 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.