Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VISN 17 employees only.

Videos

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf

The NIEC PM is responsible for monitoring performance measures at the local,VISN, and VACO levels; providing responses to congressional inquiries; andbriefings to providers, VA leadership, community organizations, and other internaland external stakeholders. Oversees the daily operations of the NIEC programs.Develops policies and procedures for program operation, and prepares reports andstatistics for facility, VISN, and national use. Manages NIEC clinical and businessoperations, accountability for program effectiveness, and modification of servicepatterns to comply with the delivery of standardized processes. Develops a data- driven, continuous quality improvement program with established goals andoutcomes to evaluate and document the program's effectiveness. Manages andcontrols the use of data related to these programs regarding day-to-day functioningand program evaluation. Provides oversight of facility NIEC program fiscal mattersof the functions supervised, forecasts resource and equipment needs, andadministers the allocated budget.

The NIEC PM develops a system to recognizes gaps in workforce competenciesand ensures supervised staff who require knowledge and skill development receivethe training necessary to execute their duties. Develops robust programs that notonly administers the required programing and services outlined within policy andregulation but also actively promotes national VHA resources on a consistent basis.Manages all processes, procedures, and practices associated with programeligibility and participation (i.e., enrollment, level of care and tier assignment, anddischarge) to ensure application processing, tier adjustments, and programrevocations follow local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and align withnational policy and governing regulations for timeliness and quality process andpractice outcomes. and VACO priorities. The incumbent assists the team in developing and implementing local NIEC policies and procedures to include performance improvement, patient safety, utilization review, emergency preparedness, staff safety, and implementation of National Patient Safety Goals. The incumbent is responsible for the reporting mechanisms for emergency management and infection control to the appropriate committees.

The incumbent is responsible for orienting and mentoring the staff and promoting staff development and professional growth to ensure competency. The incumbent manages and tracks program resources as well as monitoring and assessing staff productivity. The duties of the Program Director involve collaborating with the Office of Information Technology to ensure accurate reporting of NIEC clinical, administrative and workload data.

The incumbent demonstrates mastery of advanced management and organizational principles and practices along with a comprehensive knowledge of planning, programming and budgetary regulations, guidelines, and processes. The incumbent possesses thorough knowledge of home health care, primary care, agency goals and objectives, missions, and organizational relationships in addition to knowledge of VA requirements and other standards or codes related to patient care activities. The incumbent has expert ability to plan and implement short-term and long-range goals in accordance with VHA, VACO and Medical Center directives and policies.

The incumbent analyzes and assesses the potential for growth of the NIEC program, in order to meet the needs of the identified Veteran population and in accordance with National and VISN performance measures. The incumbent works with the various stakeholders and promotes the required Request for Funding with all necessary supportive data; when such initiatives are approved, the incumbent then implements and coordinates the expansion, which can occur both at the primary site as well as in satellite settings. As Rural Health initiatives develop, the incumbent is responsible for developing, implementing and directing NIEC program at the main site as well at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The incumbent serves in the capacity of Program Coordinator for the NIEC team as well as all satellites and potential satellites.

The incumbent provides direct supervision for the daily work of the administrative and multidisciplinary NIEC team and provides administrative oversight for the programs.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Central)
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: 100% Virtual position
Functional Statement #: Social Worker Program Coordinator (NIEC)
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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Independent Practice 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/.
• Advanced Practice Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series at the GS-12 level or higher in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.

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).

Preferred Experience:

• 10 or more years of experience as a Social Worker
• Leadership or Supervisory experience
• Experience with non-institutional care programs and community nursing homes
• Experience in VA or other federal employment
• Experience in cultivating and maintaining collaborative partnerships with multidisciplinary team
• Ability to oversee program requirements and meet outside reviewer expectations.

Grade Determinations: GS-13:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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.

NOTE: to be equivalent to the GS-12 level, experience must be earned while having an advanced practice license in a U.S. State or Territory.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
(a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.
(b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
(c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
(d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
(e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.
(f) 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.
(g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations.

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0185, Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 9/10/2019.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 13.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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 WILL 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.