This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30, 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 24, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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: English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). United States Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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/. 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 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. Candidate 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. Assignments. Program coordinators at the GS-12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program. The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area. The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. 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, the candidate 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. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders, harm reduction philosophy and principles of recovery, and experience in managing a multidisciplinary team are preferred. Supervisory experience preferred. 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: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. SW must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the SW or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
Assumes, under the direct supervision of the SUD Program Coordinator, the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS. Supervises, executes, & monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program. Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans, many of whom have complex needs that include serious and persistent mental health, medical, & psychosocial problems. Responsible for multiple performance areas within the Outpatient SUD Program. These include but are not limited to national & local statutes, Joint Commission accreditation standards, CARF accreditation standards, & VHA program requirements. Leads a multidisciplinary team, to include psychologists, social workers, nurses, & other health care professionals. Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings. Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies and procedures, with the approval of the SUD Program Coordinator. Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s). Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, & the adherence to administrative demands. Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards. Plans work to be accomplished by team members, including establishing priorities, timelines for completion, & necessary adjustments therein. Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team, in accordance with local & national policies. Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures. Provides clinical supervision, to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies, documentation of CPRS procedures, & the clinical management of difficult, complex, & dangerous patients. Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program, to include constructing job announcement(s), preparing functional statements, &/or selecting final job candidates. Resolves conflicts among assigned staff & adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner. Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section. Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner. Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave. Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services. Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs. May be asked to attend & participate in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief, Mental Health Chief, Chief of Staff, &/or Facility Director. Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings. Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes. Allocate resources within the Mental Health Service at Western Colorado, based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line. Oversee survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program, in collaboration with the SUD Program Coordinator, Mental Health Leadership, & the QM Manager. Oversee and collaborate with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility and Mental Health performance metrics. Comprehend, interpret, & use the data array decided on by the SUD Program Coordinator & Mental Health Leadership. Complete suspense actions related to the management area. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available. Telework: May be available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55447-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.