Summary

The Chief Social Work is accountable to the Associate Director Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive (ADPCS/NE) for primary assistance and management of patient care - human and material resources - and operations. The incumbent is a clinical lead and performs oversight for the clinical processes and people within the social work department in the clinical setting. They have responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services.

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.] Preferred Experience: Applicant must possess a master's degree in social work from a Nationally recognized professional organization or university
• Must be licensed or certified at the advanced practical level - and must provide supervision for licensure
• Qualified candidate must possess skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments to include executive leadership consultation - and quality improvement processes
• Must be able to provide staff training and development
• Experience in Medical Foster Home - Caregiver Support - Contract Nursing Home - Adult Day Health - Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) - Visually Impaired Veteran Program - and the Intimate Partner Violence Program
• Candidate must possess experience with the creation and oversight of the Social Work Professional Practice Committee and oversee the professional practice functions of social workers standards of practice
• Candidate must have experience providing opportunities for professional continuing education through journal clubs - case presentations - workshops - and conferences
• Candidate must have experience and skill in applying legal - ethical - and professional standards applicable to social work practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements:
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU As the Chief of Social Work - you will have 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
• You will designate service priorities and objectives - and will serve as the liaison to other services or care-lines - other facilities - VISN offices - and VHA Central Office
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Overseeing the SW Professional Practice Committee as well as functioning as the facility's social work subject matter expert
• Coordinating interdisciplinary staffing - work assignments - budget - treatment services provided and admission criteria for the social work service line
• Providing technical and administrative supervision to social workers at various grade levels who are organizationally assigned to various service lines
• Managing the administrative and clinical aspects of major specialty programs located at the main campus as well as multiple divisions of the facility spread throughout northern Arizona
• Developing and monitoring compliance with social work practice standards and guidelines on documentation - workload - data entry - ethical practice - and service delivery
• In collaboration with Human Resources - tracking required licensure/certification for all social workers - including continuing education requirements - license renewal - and other requirements social workers must meet to deliver appropriate care
• Assessing the continuing education requirements of social workers and developing plans for meeting the educational requirements for licensure and clinical practice
• Overseeing the Social Work Associated health Trainee Program
• Ensuring social work participation in the planning and implementation of patient care treatment programs designed in collaboration with other health professionals in the admission - evaluation - treatment - and follow-up processes
• Determining appropriate levels of staff qualifications and expertise necessary to assure accomplishment of social work services and programs by evaluating and analyzing staff credentials and approving appropriate clinical privileges for individual staff
• Developing and maintaining effective inpatient and outpatient social work services to veterans whose illness or disability is compounded by social - emotional - cultural - or economic conditions
• Studying - reviewing - and evaluating programming to determine priorities for services - the need to establish innovative programs - or to modify or discontinue established programs
• Determining personnel - equipment - space - and supply needs based upon social work goals - and preparing justifications for resource requests
• Developing and maintaining extensive community relationships with public - private and voluntary agencies in the community with a goal of developing services to cover gaps in continuity of care of resources for veterans
• Actively participating or leading workgroups - boards - and/or other groups designated to recommend new or revised policies or processes
• Researching - interpreting - and implementing local NAVAHCS programs according to written guidelines
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized This position may be converted to a permanent position.