Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

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: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as a Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). 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 Requirement: You must have a master’s degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Note: 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. Transcripts Required In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following experience to qualify for this GS-12 Senior Social Worker position: Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Copy of Licensure Required Experience Requirement: You must possess 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. Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient’s strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in medical social work, care coordination, discharge planning, and working with interdisciplinary teams. Experience is only creditable if it is post-master’s degree experience as a professional Social Worker directly related to the duties performed. Note: Evidence of experience, must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on your application or resume. Also, please provide work experience information such as hours per week and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish one (1) full year of experience. The requirement for this proof is specified in the “How to Apply” section of this announcement. To be credible, experience must be documented in the application and verifiable through employment references and/or other means. *Your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answer; we will not allow credit for your response(s). Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, dated 9/10/2019. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
The Program Coordinator role is to be filled by a Social Worker who is licensed at the advanced practice level who has advanced training and knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Polytrauma and working with patients who have or at risk for major amputation. This is including but not limited to: the physical and psychosocial implications of TBI/Polytrauma and amputations on the Veteran and family; appropriate clinical interventions; prosthetic services and policies.