Social Worker (Mental Health Section Chief)

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:

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: 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 on http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation
• Licensure: Full, unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level Current state requirements may be found at http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. .[(1)Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline.]

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: GS-13:

• Experience/Education:
  • One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The chief social work service must show evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Skill in administrative and supervisory duties which includes personnel actions, clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement.
  • Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to social work practice.
  • Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in all settings.
  • Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
  • Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The chief social work at this level typically has responsibility for management of small to moderately complex social work service within the organization. The chief social work service is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The chief social work provides supervision to social work service staff members of different grades. Supervision may include multiple disciplines, treatment sites that are limited and in close proximity to the medical center, and programs are with limited administrative oversite responsibility. The chief social work has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision of the service.]


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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Responsibilities:

VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Plans, controls, organizes, and directs the activities of staff within the IMPACT Unit (IU), ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and meets customer and stakeholder needs.
• Develops goals and objectives that integrate organization and multidisciplinary staff objectives.
• Plans, analyzes and monitors data from various VA databases to ensure IU is succeeding on all performance Measures and monitors related to IU's functioning.
• Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies MHCL, VASDHS, VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, JCAHO, CARF and related professional, Federal and VHA policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure compliance and successful outcomes for any site visit or audit.
• Establishes, assesses and revises policies and procedures for administrative and clinical operations of staff within the IMPACT unit.
• Plans and schedules work in a manner that promotes a smooth flow and even distribution. Coordinates plans and schedules with other IULs, managers and customers as appropriate. Identifies need for changes in priorities and takes action to implement such changes.
• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules. Assigns work to subordinate employees based on the IUL priorities and consideration of difficulty and requirements of assignments such that the experience, training, and abilities of staff are effectively utilized to meet organization and customer needs.
• Reviews MHCL organization mission, functions, and staffing. Identifies requirements and initiates requests for additional resources including personnel, overtime, equipment, supplies, and space to ensure success in meeting goals and objectives.
• Works with subordinates to ensure optimal utilization of training resources and, if appropriate, ensures high quality training is provided within the IU.
• Provides advice to the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health regarding significant issues and problems related to work accomplishment. Establishes metrics and analysis systems to ensure actions are timely and reviewed at critical points. Accepts, amend, or rejects work presented by subordinates.
• Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities in conjunction with subordinate's Service Chief or Lead.
• Explains performance expectations to employees and provides regular feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Holds employees responsible for satisfactory completion of work assignments. Appraises subordinate workers performance ensuring consistency and equity in rating techniques. Recommends awards when appropriate and approves within-grade increases.
• Hears and resolves employee complaints and refers serious unresolved complaints to higher-level management. Initiates action to correct performance to conduct problems.
• Affects minor disciplinary measure such as warnings and reprimands and recommends action in more serious disciplinary matters.
• Provides clinical care as appropriate to clinical privileges.
• All other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730 - 1600
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
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: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Salary : $417