The Social Worker will serve as the Non- Institutional Extended Care(NIEC) Program Coordinator, which include Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Purchased Skill Care, Veterans Directed Care (VDC), Foster Home (MFH),Advance Care Planning (ACP), Community Nursing Home (CNH), State Veterans Home (SVH), and other Non-Institutional Care Programs (currently not established) at the West Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System(WTVAHCS)
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. 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: 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. Independent Practice 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/. Advanced Practice Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series at the GS-12 level or higher in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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). Preferred Experience: 10 or more years of experience as a Social Worker Leadership or Supervisory experience Experience with non-institutional care programs and community nursing homes Experience in VA or other federal employment Experience in cultivating and maintaining collaborative partnerships with multidisciplinary team Ability to oversee program requirements and meet outside reviewer expectations. Grade Determinations: GS-13: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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. NOTE: to be equivalent to the GS-12 level, experience must be earned while having an advanced practice license in a U.S. State or Territory. Knowledge Skills & Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0185, Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 9/10/2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.
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 The NIEC PM is responsible for monitoring performance measures at the local, VISN, and VACO levels; providing responses to congressional inquiries; and briefings to providers, VA leadership, community organizations, and other internal and external stakeholders. Oversees the daily operations of the NIEC programs. Develops policies and procedures for program operation, and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. Manages NIEC clinical and business operations, accountability for program effectiveness, and modification of service patterns to comply with the delivery of standardized processes. Develops a data- driven, continuous quality improvement program with established goals and outcomes to evaluate and document the program's effectiveness. Manages and controls the use of data related to these programs regarding day-to-day functioning and program evaluation. Provides oversight of facility NIEC program fiscal matters of the functions supervised, forecasts resource and equipment needs, and administers the allocated budget. The NIEC PM develops a system to recognizes gaps in workforce competencies and ensures supervised staff who require knowledge and skill development receive the training necessary to execute their duties. Develops robust programs that not only administers the required programing and services outlined within policy and regulation but also actively promotes national VHA resources on a consistent basis. Manages all processes, procedures, and practices associated with program eligibility and participation (i.e., enrollment, level of care and tier assignment, and discharge) to ensure application processing, tier adjustments, and program revocations follow local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and align with national policy and governing regulations for timeliness and quality process and practice outcomes. and VACO priorities. The incumbent assists the team in developing and implementing local NIEC policies and procedures to include performance improvement, patient safety, utilization review, emergency preparedness, staff safety, and implementation of National Patient Safety Goals. The incumbent is responsible for the reporting mechanisms for emergency management and infection control to the appropriate committees. The incumbent analyzes and assesses the potential for growth of the NIEC program, in order to meet the needs of the identified Veteran population and in accordance with National and VISN performance measures. The incumbent works with the various stakeholders and promotes the required Request for Funding with all necessary supportive data; when such initiatives are approved, the incumbent then implements and coordinates the expansion, which can occur both at the primary site as well as in satellite settings. As Rural Health initiatives develop, the incumbent is responsible for developing, implementing and directing NIEC program at the main site as well at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). The incumbent serves in the capacity of Program Coordinator for the NIEC team as well as all satellites and potential satellites. The incumbent provides direct supervision for the daily work of the administrative and multidisciplinary NIEC team and provides administrative oversight for the programs. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker Program Coordinator (NIEC) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized