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Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - Trauma Recovery Program

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Trauma Recovery Program (TRP) Social Worker Program Coordinator will have supervisory responsibility for Licensed Independent Providers (LIPs), Registered Nurse (RN) Care Managers, and Peer Support Specialists (PSS) assigned to the TRP. The incumbent has responsibility for the oversight, planning, and development of the TRP, as well as compliance with VHA Directives, Handbooks, Medical Center Policies (MCP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as it pertains to the TRP.




Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/02/2025 to 07/10/2025
Salary
$118,464 to - $154,005 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
West Palm Beach, FL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTC-12750882-25-JW
Control number
839944000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (Facility) employees; current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees (Agency - VHA, VBA, NCA); and current, permanent Federal employees of other agencies. Facility employees will have FIRST consideration.

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Duties

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The TRP Social Worker Program Coordinator provides clinical and programmatic supervision for the TRP and Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) Pilot Program. The incumbent should demonstrate proven leadership skills, including problem solving skills, conflict resolution abilities, task prioritization, project management skills, and strategies for efficiency improvements. The incumbent will need to demonstrate knowledge of VHA and other accrediting bodies standards and regulations, and evidence-based psychotherapies for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading the TRP, providing evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) to a population of Veterans with complex mental health needs to include PTSD.
  • Ensuring efficient operation of the TRP and PAWS Pilot Program. Timely triaging consults submitted to the TRP. Maintaining updated schedule of all services offered in the TRP and assisting with the development/implementation of new treatment modalities.
  • Supervising TRP staff assigned to him/her, to include timely completion of performance appraisals, identifying the need for disciplinary actions/performance improvement, providing feedback and collaborating with the other supervisors in the service lines such as Section Chiefs of Psychiatry/Psychology, Social Services, and Nursing service.
  • Developing and implementing the organizational vision for the TRP and providing leadership, consultation, and operational guidance in compliance with established regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Serving as an evidence-based psychotherapy champion to encourage the adoption of evidence-based treatment by both providers and patients.
  • Creating policy and procedures related to delivery of services within the TRP and may provide reporting and data analysis of performance outcomes at the local and VISN level.
  • Coordinating coverage when providers call out or have approved leave in order to minimize disruption of patient care.
  • Establishing and monitoring productivity and performance priorities and standards
  • Providing consultation services to other staff members regarding PTSD and PTSD services to include evidence-based therapies.
  • Serving on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, including participation in assigned RCA committee activities as needed.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement # 41820F Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - TRP
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Requirements

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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.
  • 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).

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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • 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: 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13 (Above Full Performance Level)
  • 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.
While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position:
  1. Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.
  2. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
  3. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  4. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This position is being filled above the full performance level at GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. The incumbent will be expected to successfully negotiate various functional requirements: lifting (15-44 pounds), carrying (15-44 pounds), walking (1-3 hours), reaching above their shoulder(s), the use of hands or fingers, sitting (4-6 hours), standing (1-2 hours), repeated bending, using stairs or elevators, functional vision, clear speech, hearing, and emotional stability. There may be occasional requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and physical inspections of the facilities.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

  1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
  2. All other VA employees.
  3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
Note: Veterans Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.

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