This position is the Physical Medicine and Rehab Social Work Program Coordinator. This is a multiprogram position which includes Polytrauma, Spinal Cord Injury, Bowel and Bladder, VIST (Visual Impairment Services) and elements of the Amputee Clinic. Working in collaboration with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS), the social worker provides direct care coordination, care management, and case management of severely ill and/or injured Veterans.
*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 11, 2025. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be April 22, 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. *** Basic Requirements: -Citizenship Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. -English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). -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: 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. -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. AND -Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Assignments 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. 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. Preferred Experience: None Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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. Social Worker 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 social worker or others. This position requires a valid state driver's license and local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans. The position requires significant travel in the community, through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who provide assistance and support to Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, etc.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf -Establishes and maintains effective working relationships and communicates with Veterans, staff, and other parties as appropriate. Advocate on behalf of Veterans to ensure that services and benefits are obtained in a timely manner. Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Collaborate with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Chief to ensure continuity of care and services for Veterans. -Utilizes knowledge of community resources, makes referrals to the community and other government agencies as appropriate, and coordinates services. Assist Veterans in overcoming barriers or delays in care through obtaining necessary authorizations. Aid Veterans in obtaining benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. Make referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility. -Conducts independent psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions on a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Complete psychosocial evaluation, assessment, and periodic reassessments of patients. Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the IDT. Offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Act as the Lead Coordinator when deemed appropriate, to ensure the Veteran's care is coordinated across settings, services, and episodes of care, and the care plan is delivered as clinically indicated. -Provides consultation, education, and advocacy. Serve as subject matter expert for Polytrauma and Spinal Cord Injury Social Work services. Work collaboratively with staff at in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, Veterans Benefits Administration, Military Treatment Facility case managers, the Post 9/11 Military to Veteran Case Management Program, within the healthcare community, and with other staff and partners who provide services to Veterans. Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, military systems, other government programs and community agency programs. -Utilizes a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities in treatment or with specialized Veteran populations, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy, and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Provide Veterans with individual and family treatment and support . Independently perform case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Provide care coordination, care management, and case management services to Veteran's enrolled in the PM&RS programs, -Utilizes knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. -Write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. -Demonstrate skills in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program areas. Work Schedule: M-F; 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60251-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized