Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to current VHA employees only.

Videos

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

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:
Program administration:
- Ensures the delivery of Social Work Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Services on a routine and emergent basis, including during non-administrative hours.
- Informs other disciplines in writing of changes in Social Work program policies and procedures.
- Assesses the most efficient deployment of staff.
- Ensures that essential Clinical Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation functions are provided. These functions include:
o Biopsychosocial screening, assessment, planning, and intervention
o Care coordination/case management
o Coordination of care across VA SORCC treatment programs o Coordination of community-based services including information and referral
o Community liaison and networking services
o Case finding and outreach services as appropriate
o Discharge planning and coordination
o Crisis intervention services
o Professional consultation
o Coordination of family conferences and liaison with family members
o Patient and family education
o Employment Support and Services for Veterans across all Behavioral Health Service lines to include:
- Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)
- Supported Employment (SE)
- Transitional Work Experience (TWE)
- Vocational Assistance, consistent with VA's Uniform Behavioral Health Services Handbook 1160.01, VHA Handbook 1162.02, and VHA Handbook 1162.03.
- Vocational Development Services within Homeless Programs
- Develops procedures for the coordination of Social Work Service during disasters, drills, and emergencies.
- Oversees deployment of staff during these situations.

Policy and procedures:
The incumbent is attuned to the delivery of service throughout the VA SORCC, and
- Assesses trends in provided treatment/services.
- Makes decisions regarding resolution of difficult problems when required, with appropriate input from other key staff members.
- Drafts service-level policies to provide staff accurate and current procedural information, instructions, guidelines, and resources.
- Drafts assigned VA SORCC policies involving Social Work Service and institutes necessary revisions.
- Ensures all programs within the Service meet CARF and The Joint Commission requirements. Staff selection, education, and career development:
- Recommends the appropriate number of staff to meet the needs of complex Veteran-centered care.

Participates in recruiting qualified SWs, RNs, employment specialists, and PSSs within Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Service as well as across VA SORCC.
- Participates in interviewing, selection, and orientation of SWs, RNs, employment specialists, and PSS within Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Service as well as across VA SORCC.
- Oversees orientation of clinical staff regarding Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Service functions.
- Participates in the oversight of facility Social Work scope of practice process.
- Works collaboratively with Credentialing and Privileging to track required licensure and certification for SWs and RNs, including continuing education requirements, license renewal, and other requirements that clinicians must meet to deliver appropriate care.
- Ensures that unlicensed SWs have access to clinical supervision from a licensed SW for licensure or certification. Education: - Assesses the continuing education requirements of Social Workers.
- Develops plans for unlicensed or training Social Workers to meet the educational requirements for licensure and clinical practice.
- Develops opportunities for professional continuing education.
- Creates Memoranda of Understanding with Social Work schools, VA SORCC Education Department, and the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA). - Requests trainee positions through OAA.
- Selects Social Workers to serve as training faculty or student supervisors.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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

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: 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/.

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 (Service Chief), GS-14:
(1) Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. The chief social work service must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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. The chief social worker 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, and recommendations of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions.
(b) Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice.
(c) Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections.
(d) Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
(e) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements
(f) Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements.

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-14.

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.