Duties

Social Work:Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf (va.gov)
Social Worker (Program Coordinator) is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities:

• Supervises with decision authority multidisciplinary staff across multi-divisions.
• Develops, policies and procedures that will impact the delivery of Behavioral Health Social Work services.
• Has fiscal accountability and responsibility for fund control points.
• Prepares policies and program guidance as well as develops responses to VHA reports as necessary.
• Interviews Veterans and their family members to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health.
• Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths.
• Uses advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options. Assesses the high risk, factors, acuity, and need for services.
• Serves Veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises.
• Evaluates the client's situation. Based on the biopsychosocial assessment uses professional judgement and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran and family.
• Performs assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness involving psychiatric, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high risk diagnoses.
• Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action. On an inpatient/outpatient basis, finds a suitable means of treatment to help Veterans to cope with stressful situations. Treatment is aimed at helping Veterans find practical solutions to problems.
• Responsible for planning, design, development, and implementation of all programs with Social Work. Will design strategies to increase outreach to Veterans as well as develop cost-effective alternatives to hospitalization.
• Identifies the need to formulate proposals for executive-level management consideration.
• Responsible for briefing the VAMC Behavioral Health Chief on management on planning, policies, and interagency coordination.
• Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers. Provide clinical supervision to unlicensed Social Workers.
• Provides leadership in developing, implementing, evaluating, updating, and improving processes, procedures, and goals in the program.
• Monitors the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of the programs.
• Works closely with BH Department, Quality Management, The Joint Commission, (CARF), Professional Services Entities, Public Relations, and Union projects.
• Works collaboratively with community-based organizations, Veterans service groups and other stakeholders to expand the range of available resources to Veterans.
• Establishes strategic partnerships and memorandums of understanding between community-based service providers and the Medical Center as needed and appropriate.
• Provides for the budgeting and financial management.
• Coordinates Social Work services with other services offered in treatment program.
• Provides case management services.
• Conducts staff development trainings.
• Compares and analyzes local, VISN 20, and national data and offer explanation for any deviations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must operate a vehicle.
• 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • License
  • Resume
  • Transcript

  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
  

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

  Veteran's Preference: In accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 9/27/2023, Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this occupation.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

  All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/19/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12375326.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

  • Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

  NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

  Agency contact information

  Jovita Murphy

  Phone

  253-583-3850

  Email

  jovita.murphy@va.gov

  Address

  Jonathan M Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center
  77 Wainwright Drive
  Walla Walla, WA 99362
  US

  Next steps

  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
  You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
  NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be the Public - US Citizens. *Veterans Preference does not apply to this announcement per OCHCO Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages, dated 9/28/2023.