Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Current, permanent VISN 4 employees may apply to this vacancy.

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The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) will be responsible for all consult management for V4 MHRRTP requests, including coordination of admissions, screenings, and other related tasks. This position is responsible for the first level of review for any appeals or concerns noted by Veterans, referring providers, and facility MHRRTPs. Incumbent will be responsible for facilitating daily huddles between team members and facility points of contact. This position will be responsible for maintaining open dialog between MH RRTPs within the VISN, monitoring bed availability within the VISN, coordinating with neighboring VISNs, and keeping program information up to date from each facility within the VISN. In the role, the MHRRTP CST Program Coordinator is responsible for providing leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for all staff assigned to the MHRRTP CST. The MH RRTP CST Program Coordinator will act as a liaison with the Office of Integrated Veterans Care and the Veterans Community Care Program within the VISN. The incumbent will be responsible for other program management and CRH operations tasks as assigned and appropriate.

The incumbent will be responsible for participating in the screening process for MH RRTPs in the VISN. These duties include (but are not limited to the following:

• Screening (including animal review, if applicable) to determine appropriateness for admission, with consideration for Veteran and referring provider preference regarding location of care
• Assigning bed dates
• Referring to alternate locations external to the VISN and, when appropriate, to the community
• Consult (referral) management This position will be responsible for communicating admission denials due to clinical reasons to the referring provider and the Veteran, and, as appropriate, working with the referring provider and/or the Veteran to identify suitable alternative treatment options.
• The incumbent will schedule and assign an MH RRTP bed date, working collaboratively with the local MH RRTP. The incumbent will be responsible for other clinical duties as assigned and appropriate by CRH and/or VISN 4 leadership.

Performs other duties as required.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday; As program expands, there may be a need to shift the tour to include evening and occasional weekend hours.
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000 / Social Worker (Program Coordinator)
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 4 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/.

Grade Determinations: 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.

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

• 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.

Preferred Experience: Ability to screen for appropriateness for inpatient admissions; experience communicating with stakeholders about admission criteria; and skills in working with referring providers on alternate placement.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services

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.