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 position is open to current, permanent employees of the Minneapolis VAHCS.

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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

Program Management Responsibilities:

• Incumbent administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of services provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, inpatient days, patient demographics, equipment utilization, and patient satisfactions. Develops and implements and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services. Duties include directing, administering, and managing all aspects of the Mental health services, including comprehensive planning, developing and implementing programs, policies and procedures; determining program needs; overseeing the type, quality and quantity of services provided; setting priorities; and establishing short- and long-range program goals, initiatives, and direction.
• The incumbent oversees a group of employees performing work at various GS levels (e.g. psychiatrist, advanced practice nurses, psychologists, clinical social workers, nurses, and clerical staff. And provides administrative, technical and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work for the service including outreach efforts, CBOC involvement and efforts at the other sites within a Health Care system.
• Collaborates with discipline supervisors including psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing by providing input in hiring, performance reviews, incentives, and discipline. Collaborates with clerical supervisors for similar input. Duties with the clinical staff include providing clinical consultation in utilizing evidence-based therapeutic practices and clinical practice guidelines; creating a work environment that acknowledges and respects widely divergent interests, points of views and discipline perspectives; and providing support, encouragement and direction to all staff.

Supervisory:

• The incumbent supervises a group of social workers performing work at the GS 12 levels and below, including advanced practice social workers. The incumbent provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the units.
• The incumbent performs administrative and program coordination with multi-objective programs consisting of treatment, training and education, ensuring that services are provided in a timely, comprehensive and coordinated manner. The incumbent determines and recommends budgetary needs of designated social work programs.
• The incumbent exercise supervisory and managerial authorities, provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work and/or the staff of the units and areas assigned. The incumbent provides clinical supervision to staff to meet state requirements for social work licensure.
• Incumbent supervises employees to accomplish the work of the organization units. Exercises supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised.

Patient Care:

• The incumbent will have the ability to conduct psychosocial assessments of a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, education, and other diversified backgrounds. The incumbent will have basic knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture. They are directly responsible for the coordination of all aspects of services for the CBOC including those conducted by staff and trainees.
• The incumbent will have the ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing emotional, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling skills. The incumbents work to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patient and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance as needed.

Work Schedule: 08:00 to 16:30; Monday through Friday
Telework: Ad-Hoc only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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

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-13

Experience/Education:
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.

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, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
(Note: a separate document with written demonstration of KSAs must be included with application, see required documents section):

(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.

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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.