Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary The Program Coordinator role is to be filled by a Social Worker who is licensed at the advanced practice level who has advanced training and knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Polytrauma and working with patients who have or at risk for major amputation. This is including but not limited to: the physical and psychosocial implications of TBI/Polytrauma and amputations on the Veteran and family; appropriate clinical interventions; prosthetic services and policies. Responsibilities Major Duties: Establishes collaborative relationships with providers and disciplines across the medical center to foster involvement in care of patients with TBI/Polytrauma and with or at risk for major amputations. Identifies unmet needs of the population served and works collaboratively with community agencies. Displays a broader commitment to the needs of veterans not currently using services by attending community forums, participating in veteran-oriented conferences and events, as well as partnering with veteran outreach agencies. Promotes the use of VA benefits, programs, and services. Creates educational tools, develops programs and implements training focused on specific needs/issues of the population served. Identifies gaps in services and make recommendations to improve service delivery within their facilities. Provides administrative oversight of program and administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops, implements, and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, patient demographics, and patient satisfaction. Performs a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to state, local, and private agencies, and universities. Uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. Develops and fosters relationships with community partners to assist with system navigation, maintain collaboration and coordinate services. Stays abreast of current federal and state legislation affecting Veterans with TBI/Polytrauma and affecting Veterans with or at risk for major amputations, their family members, Caregiver and/or VA employees. Maintains a knowledge base of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals, attending conferences, clinic seminars and teleconferences, and materials distributed through VA and private sector sources. Evaluates program usage, effectiveness and outcomes and utilizes data to continuously modify and improve the program and processes. Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, inpatient days, patient demographics, utilization of services and patient satisfaction. Serves as point of contact for inquiries regarding services and care available for veterans with TBI/Polytrauma and veterans with or at risk for major amputation. Provides assessments, screenings, advance care planning, Goals of Care conversations, resource & referral, case management and supportive care within their scope of practice to patients referred/enrolled in the clinics. Participates in direct Veteran, family, Caregiver, and VA employee contacts to identify and assess risk, safety, supports and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on services, concerns, issues relating to the care of patients under TBI/Polytrauma and Amputee Clinic. Provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. Serves as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans, their families, Caregivers, and VA employees encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Independently deals with crises and effectively uses problem-solving skills to assist the veteran, family and staff. Provides training to entry level staff and Social Work graduate students and conducts formal workshops and trainings for staff related to the specialty population served. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Will be discussed during interview Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Requirements 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as a Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement: You must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Note: 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. Transcripts Required In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following experience to qualify for this GS-12 Senior Social Worker position: Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Copy of Licensure Required Experience Requirement: You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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 medical social work, care coordination, discharge planning, and working with interdisciplinary teams. Experience is only creditable if it is post-master's degree experience as a professional Social Worker directly related to the duties performed. Note: Evidence of experience, must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on your application or resume. Also, please provide work experience information such as hours per week and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish one (1) full year of experience. The requirement for this proof is specified in the "How to Apply" section of this announcement. To be credible, experience must be documented in the application and verifiable through employment references and/or other means. *Your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answer; we will not allow credit for your response(s). Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, dated 9/10/2019. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.