Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. citizens. *** If you ARE a current federal employee, please apply to the Internal Announcement CBSU-12707453-25-GH. ***

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• Assumes, under the direct supervision of the SUD Program Coordinator, the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS.
• Supervises, executes, & monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program.
• Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans, many of whom have complex needs that include serious and persistent mental health, medical, & psychosocial problems.
• Responsible for multiple performance areas within the Outpatient SUD Program. These include but are not limited to national & local statutes, Joint Commission accreditation standards, CARF accreditation standards, & VHA program requirements.
• Leads a multidisciplinary team, to include psychologists, social workers, nurses, & other health care professionals. Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies and procedures, with the approval of the SUD Program Coordinator.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s).
• Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, & the adherence to administrative demands.
• Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards.
• Plans work to be accomplished by team members, including establishing priorities, timelines for completion, & necessary adjustments therein.
• Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team, in accordance with local & national policies.
• Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
• Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
• Provides clinical supervision, to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies, documentation of CPRS procedures, & the clinical management of difficult, complex, & dangerous patients.
• Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program, to include constructing job announcement(s), preparing functional statements, &/or selecting final job candidates.
• Resolves conflicts among assigned staff & adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner.
• Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section.
• Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner.
• Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave. Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision.
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services. Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs.
• May be asked to attend & participate in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief, Mental Health Chief, Chief of Staff, &/or Facility Director.
• Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings.
• Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes.
• Allocate resources within the Mental Health Service at Western Colorado, based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line.
• Oversee survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program, in collaboration with the SUD Program Coordinator, Mental Health Leadership, & the QM Manager.
• Oversee and collaborate with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility and Mental Health performance metrics.
• Comprehend, interpret, & use the data array decided on by the SUD Program Coordinator & Mental Health Leadership.
• Complete suspense actions related to the management area.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: May be available.
Telework: May be available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55447-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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).

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 22, 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 24, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***

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:

English Language Proficiency

• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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/.

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-13

Experience and 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.

Assignments. Program coordinators at the GS-13 grade level oversee the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program, such as, but not limited to: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Home-Based Primary Care, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Caregiver Support Program or Transition and Care Management Program, or a combination of programs located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility. They are responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing, work assignments, budget, treatment services provided, and admission criteria for the program. The program coordinator may or may not have supervisory responsibilities. They have full responsibility for all phases of service delivery for a major specialty program. The program coordinator is responsible for the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. They are administratively responsible for the programming and operations of the program assigned, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. Program coordinators provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity. Program coordinators 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.

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) 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.

Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders, harm reduction philosophy and principles of recovery, and experience in managing a multidisciplinary team are preferred. Supervisory experience preferred.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. SW must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the SW or others.
Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams.
This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

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.