Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

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

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• The ACP and Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for the program development and implementation of the program and services across the health care system. The incumbent develops and implements programs and services associated with advance directives, advance care planning, and bereavement services within all areas of the medical center/health care system and ensures compliance and collaboration with the National ACP-GV Implementation Team and the National Social Work Program Office. The incumbent assures adherence to advance directive screening and resulting actions maintaining compliance with The Joint Commission and Long Term Care requirements.
• The incumbent recognizes the need for organized partnerships between VA staff and community partners in order to build relationships, exchange information, educate each other on resources available, reduce barriers, and strengthen the delivery of care and services to veterans. S/he will establish and serve veterans through a network of trained facilitators and though the delivery of direct services to inpatients, outpatients, and survivors. S/he will manage the flow of AD work load including entering the appropriate documentation. The incumbent will serve as the champion and subject matter expert on advance directives & advanced care planning actively identifying challenges and barriers and working in collaboration with others to address and/or eliminate them (e.g. demographic information updates, guardianship flags, benefits education, etc).
• S/he monitors for compliance of facility and national policies. S/he provides education and support to veterans and staff related to Life Sustaining Treatment directives, State- Authorized-Portable-Orders, Advance Directives, and the connections and nuances between those three components of Advance Care Planning. The incumbent provides collaboration and partnership with the MVAHCS LST Site Coordinator, Ethics Consultation Team, and MVAHCS Ethics and Compliance leadership teams.
• The incumbent serves as local subject matter expert for advance care planning (ACP), understanding documentation for state and VA process. Collaborates regularly with key partners (e.g. ICU, Hospice and Palliative Care Team, BRO Team, etc.) and serves as the facility champion for progressing conversations, collaboration, and education on advance care planning. S/he will demonstrate expertise in leading bereavement programing, group, and individual services.
• Serves as a practitioner/group facilitator and provides direct patient care services in the program. Supports and facilitates groups regularly and demonstrates an understanding of the administrative and clinical elements of standing up clinics, groups, group facilitation, program development, and recruitment. As appropriate, utilizes virtual, telephonic, and/or in person platforms for individual and group interactions. Creates a facility policy and/or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to outline the ACP-GV & bereavement referral and/or consult process and facilitates recruitment processes.
• Manages facility ACP-GV & bereavement clinics and oversees facility ACP-GV & associated documentation, including deploying national progress note template(s) to support standardized documentation within the electronic medical record.
• Provides clinical intervention and case management services for interval periods of time while assisting veterans and their caregivers in navigating the health care system and establishing care within an appropriate treatment team. May serve as a lead coordinator if clinically indicated.
• Oversees program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. Assess and monitors for program impact and outcomes.
• Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans, their families and caregivers, and survivors. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, barriers and challenges, patient demographics, equipment utilization and patient/ survivor satisfaction.
• Leads key project activities related to the planning, development, and implementation of the projects and initiatives associated broadly with Advance Care Planning.
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 07:30 to 16:00
Telework: Ad-Hoc only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• 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).
• 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

All requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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 possess a Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in written and spoken English to be appointed.

Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-0185-12
(1) Experience/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.
(2) 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.
(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
(b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
(c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
(d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
(e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.