Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

The Social Work Program Manager (CERS Deputy Chief Clinical Care) is responsible for staffing, work assignments, budget, clinical/administrative services, eligibility criteria, program operations, and reporting requirements. The CERS Homeless Programs at GLA is larger than any other Homeless program in the VA and includes Primary Care, Mental Health care, Social Work and Peer Support Services. Responsibilities for this position are complex in size and scope with multiple clinicians & paraprofessional staff providing a variety of mental health & psychosocial
services to homeless Veterans across the Greater LA catchment area.

The Social Work Program Manager (CERS Deputy Chief Clinical Care) provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with practice,
standards and guidelines.

The Social Work Program Manager (CERS Deputy Chief Clinical Care) supervises staff at the GS-13 grade level and below. The incumbent may also provide direct clinical services. The incumbent demonstrates expertise in specialized homeless programs and strategies to end
homelessness among Veterans.

In carrying out the responsibilities, it will be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Greater Los Angeles area where he/she conducts interviews with staff, Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU
VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional



Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm
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: Authorized for ad-hoc after the first 90 days of employment.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000

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 identification 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

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:

Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Individual 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

(a) Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
(b) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
(c) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
(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 which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; 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) Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
(h) Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
Licensure/Certification.
(a) Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

At the GS-14 grade level, social worker program managers are assigned to manage, direct, and oversee a major specialty program(s) at the facility, VISN or VA Central Office level. As the facility level program manager, typical assignments include serving as a care/product line manager. Program managers may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, program criteria, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the local facility.

The program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines. As the VISN level program manager, typical assignments include overseeing a VISN level program. The program manager serves as consultant to facilities in matters of program operations. They develop and monitor facility compliance with practice, standards, and guidelines across the VISN. The program manager reviews program status with facility leadership.

Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the VISN. The VISN program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. As the national level program manager, typical assignments include supporting implementation of a national program. The national program manager reports to senior executive service equivalent or GS-15 grade level national program director. They may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements.

Program manager responsibilities also include developing and serving as a subject matter expert for program specific policy and regulations and interface with congressional representatives. Program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments determined by the needs of VHA Central Office. The national program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service.

They develop and monitor staff compliance with program standards, guidelines, and service delivery. They develop and implement national training programs for internal and external partners. Program managers are responsible for ensuring program development, management, and evaluation that includes assessing the mission, goals, and programs of the organization in terms of psychosocial needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers and establishing objectives consistent with organizational goals.

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: Light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above shoulders, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, hearing (aid permitted),. Frequent travel into the community is required for this position.

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.