Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Applicants will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent Facility employees. 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees.

Videos

• Program Coordination - Will participate in the development, evaluation, and communication of standards, policies and procedures for the VDC program. Will educate medical center colleagues and/or students regarding the VDC program and assist with dissemination of program specific information to other VA facilities and community agencies. Identify community agencies, complete initial compliance reviews, and submit Contracting/Provider Agreement requests in order to expand resources. Evaluate VDC practices using relevant statutes and regulations and take action to improve identified deficiencies. Notify the Community Care Program Manager regarding potential performance improvement opportunities and participate in performance improvement activities. Participate in research and research utilization.
• Oversight - Assume primary responsibility for management of the VDC program. Monitor agency performance via multiple community and Federal resources, incident/complaint reports by VDC staff, as well as the State, and CNH staff reports regarding the status of Veterans, facility staff, and care as outlined in the most recent VHA Handbook and guidance.
• Budget and Data Management - Track VDC data and identify significant findings. Data collected includes, but is not limited to, the following: average hours authorized, timeliness of services provided, types of services provided, and budget reports. Responsible for the consult management of the program. Monitor spending on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, providing reports to the Community Care Program Manager and SWS Leadership.
• Case Management - Complete an initial screening of Veterans to determine whether they meet eligibility criteria for inclusion in the VDC program. Develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the VDC staff, the Veteran, family members and significant others, and community partners. Responsible for developing a personal spending plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. Monitor progress, maintain comprehensive documentation, ensure expert diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders, and show competent discretion in decision to adjust treatment.
• Referral to service providers - Serve as a liaison between VDC providers, VA staff, and Veteran/family as well as other NIC Coordinators throughout the country.
• Advocacy - Understand the intimidation of bureaucracy and act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment.
• Crisis Intervention - Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans to maintain patient in the home, for admission to acute, short term and/or long term placements.
• Education/Health promotion and prevention - Provide education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the health care team or appropriate VA resource for identified health education needs.
• Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services - Responsible for the coordination of referrals to non-institutional services in collaboration with VDC staff, as well as Veteran/family. This includes reviewing progress notes from other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for non-institutional and institutional alternatives.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630
Compressed/Flexible:Available, depending on program needs
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part).
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• 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. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED)
• Licensure/Certification. GS-12social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (COPY OF ADVANCE PRACTICE LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-12)

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:
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:
(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.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting & carrying (15-44 pounds), pushing (6 hours), and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others, working alone, and may work in close proximity to others in shared office space with regular noise associated with office environments.

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.