Clarification from the agency

This position is open to VA Montana Health Care Employees only. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:
Administrative & Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee performance improvement, clinical quality, data analytics, and national compliance within the Mental Health Service (MHS.)
• Develops and monitors key performance indicators for mental health operations.
• Develops and disseminates dashboards, data reports, standard operating procedures, standard work, trainings, presentations, websites/SharePoint sites, and other resources/tools to empower staff towards performance and quality improvement.
• Supports MH SAIL Committee and facilitates/attends committee workgroups responsible for improving access to care, continuity of care, and experience of care related to Mental Health SAIL measures.
• Represents MHS in facility, VISN, and VACO performance improvement and quality forums.
• Completes suspense's as needed related to mental health analytics and clinical improvement.
• Facilitate systematic process improvement efforts, such as PDSA, Lean, or other methodologies, to improve MHS performance on key performance indicators related to performance and quality (e.g., MH SAIL, productivity, group practice management operations, book ability, patient experience, etc.)
• Collaborate with MHS staff, facility leadership, and leadership and staff from other services to design, measure, and execute clinical best practices.
• Consults with MHS supervisors on execution of programmatic requirements, managing change management, and monitoring performance related to program requirements.

• Lead performance improvement projects and organize for presentation/dissemination.
• Present performance improvement research in local, VISN, VACO, and other relevant forums Pursue opportunities for funding or positions relevant to performance improvement efforts Facilitate staff engagement in quality improvement research opportunities.
• Oversee process improvement workgroups and program evaluations within the healthcare system

• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care.
• Psychological/Diagnostic Assessment - conducting clinical interviews resulting in diagnoses. Consults with clinical staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
• Conducts treatment planning and referrals to various programs within Mental Health Service and provision of return appointments for follow-up.
• Conducts psychotherapy to include time-limited and limited, longer-term supportive psychotherapy Assessment and treatment services in an outpatient clinic setting to include group and individual therapy.
• Assessing for safety (danger to self, others, grave disability) and determining need for psychiatric hospitalization. Coordinating referrals to various programs within Mental Health Service and establishing return appointments for follow-up.
• Completes consults in a timely manner, closes clinical encounters, and writes return to clinic orders. Returns patient phone calls and provides guidance to patients on treatment options.
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.

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.

• 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.

Qualifications

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.

Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as supervisory social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
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 (Program Coordinator), GS-12

Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11. 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.

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

This vacancy is being announced above the full performance level at a GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospital, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. The incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

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.