Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: 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 38 U.S. Code)
• 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 Master 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/
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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
• Must have at least 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
• 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates 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
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position require moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds)
• the use of fingers
• and operation of a motor vehicle
• Environmental Factors: Work may be performed outside and inside
• have slippery or uneven walking surfaces
• be able to work around moving objects or vehicles
• and work alone and closely with others.

Duties

• A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE IS AUTHORIZED The General Caregiver Support Program Coordinator (GCSPC) and The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) are Social Work Program Coordinators (SWPC) whose primary responsibilities are to provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions
• program development
• caregiver - Veteran - and staff education on caregiver issues
• community outreach
• resource development
• continuous quality-improvement activities
• and evaluation/consultation
• The GCSPC and PCAFC function in support of caregivers - Veterans - and family members throughout the medical center and in the community and support the development and implementation of caregiver services
• The program coordinator must be a skilled communicator capable of developing effective partnerships with local - state - and federal agencies as well as non-governmental organizations
• The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license and be able to independently operate a motor vehicle
• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Administratively responsible for the clinical programming and daily operations of the Caregiver Support Program (CSP)
• Develop and implement the CSP specific to his/her area of assignment and ensure compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives
• Develop policies and procedures for program operation and prepare reports and statistics for facility - VISN - and national use
• Manage and control the use of data related to these programs regarding day-to-day functioning and program evaluation
• Practice at the advanced level and have specialized knowledge of practice that can be differentiated from the independent practice social worker by the ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession - administer a facility program - provide consultation and guidance to colleagues - role model effective social work practice skills - teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers - develop innovations in practice interventions - and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification
• Have advanced knowledge and understanding of services and benefits available for caregivers from both federal - state - and private sector resources
• Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes caregivers - Veterans - and families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies
• Develop and implement information systems to track service activities including visits - referrals - caregiver demographics - equipment utilization - and caregiver and Veteran satisfaction
• Create educational tools - develop programs - and implement training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues
• Conduct caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress - psychiatric illness - emotional distress - and social needs as treatment issues
• Coordinate with other disciplines within the medical center to maintain the Veteran Assessment Clinic - to provide a comprehensive assessment for Veterans and caregivers in the General Caregiver Support Program seeking assistance from the program
• Provide referrals or consults - or in some cases direct admission of a Veteran to other VA programs including the Community Residential Care Program - Respite Program - Community Health Care Coordination Program - Hospice - Home Based Primary Care - Telehealth - and Community Nursing Home Program
• Establish and maintain access to electronic social networks such as Facebook - Twitter - secure email - and YouTube in accordance with VA policy
• Develop and foster relationships with community partners to assist with system navigation - maintain collaboration and coordinate services
• Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Mon - Fri - 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station: Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• 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
• 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: Ad-hoc only
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000.