Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Current Employees. . If you are not a Current Federal employee apply to CBSU-12960506-26-DAP. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Major Duties Include, but are not limited to:

• The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develops policies and procedures for program operation, and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.
• The program coordinator is administratively responsible for clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.
• The incumbent is responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery.
• The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service.
• The incumbent contributes to the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for designated funds.
• They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff.
• Promoting and providing integration of palliative care expertise beyond the VA medical facility PCCT.
• Ensuring effective communications with community hospice agencies for transitioning seriously ill Veterans to and from VA medical facilities.
• They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They oversee 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.
• They oversee 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. Rocky Mountain Network Human Resources Title 38/Hybrid Title 38 Functional Statement Exempt 1276 X01 T1 436-559450 Updated 10/2024.
• The incumbent leads a PCCT meeting at least once per week to plan, review, and evaluate patient care plans of Veterans receiving palliative care, with input from both the Veterans and their families. NOTE: Team meetings that include discussion of medication treatment plans must include the clinical pharmacist when possible. This includes, but is not limited to, performing initial and ongoing assessment of medication therapy, medication monitoring plans (as appropriate) and identifying patient-specific medication issues, including drug interactions, adverse effects, efficacy, appropriateness and compliance challenges for Veterans receiving ongoing palliative care.
• The coordinator meets regularly as a VA medical facility PCCT to discuss ongoing programmatic issues including quality improvement (e.g., quarterly review of bereaved family survey results to include the sharing of results with front-line staff), staffing, VHA policies and clinical practices.
• The coordinator provides time-limited clinical and administrative support to the primary survivor for planning purposes prior to death and from death until the dignified interment of the Veteran, including referrals to non-VA resources.
• The coordinator collaborates across MTVAHCS services and programs, ensuring completion of death notifications and Next of Kin notifications when the VA medical facility treating health care provider cannot complete contact within 4 hours of death, in accordance with the NOK decision tree.
• The incumbent communicates with VHA, VBA, NCS, VA Grant-Funded State and Tribal Cemeteries to confirm interment eligibility prior to release to funeral homes or mortuaries providing funeral services.
• The incumbent coordinates mortuary and interment services for unclaimed remains of Veterans who die under VA-authorized admission.
• The incumbent coordinates with the MTVAHCS Pathology and Laboratory Service Chief or official designated for overseeing the morgue to release and remove patient remains from the VA medical facility. NOTE: Disposition of remains must be consistent with legal requirements of the State, county, or local jurisdiction. Release of remains must be in a manner consistent with the wishes of the Veteran, as local regulations allow, the NOK, or other designee by law unless otherwise stipulated by the medical examiner or coroner. For further guidance on procedures for removal and disposition of remains.
• The incumbent coordinates and collaborates with MTVAHCS Pathology to complete autopsy requests per VA regulations.

Work Schedule: 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-559450
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• 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:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed.
• 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/.
• Grandfathering Provision. 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).

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:
  • Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
  • Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
  • Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
  • Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  • Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Preferred Experience: Experience in hospice or palliative care settings and clinical case management addressing the unique psychosocial, emotional, and practical needs of seriously ill patients and their families. Experience working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team to address the psychosocial needs of patients and their families.

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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12.

Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stopping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent may be required to travel in Updated 10/2024 GSA-vehicles. The incumbent must possess and maintain a current, valid state driver's license.

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.