Summary

Provides leadership to several programs at VA Western Colorado Health Care System and provides direction to staff responsible for care coordination and case management and establishing policy and procedure that ensures timely access to high quality care across the continuum. Supervisor for the CLC Social Worker - Palliative Care Social Worker - Acute Care/ED Social Worker - Transfer RN - General Rehabilitation Social Worker - Physical Medicine and Rehab - Social Work - and the RANGE team.

Qualifications

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: 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: GS-13 Experience/Education: 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
• 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 - candidates must demonstrate all of the following 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: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Duties are performed in an office setting and/or on hospital wards and clinics where there is exposure to communicable diseases common of the client population.

Duties

• Manages - plans - implements - monitors - and evaluates the delivery of services within Patient Flow for the VA Western Colorado Health Care System
• Coordinates interdisciplinary staffing - work assignments - budget - treatment services provided - and admission criteria for all assigned programs
• Identifies areas for improvement - gather relevant data - assess the data - develop and implement ideas for improvement - and evaluate efficacy of improvements
• Prepares the goals for each new fiscal year and reports on outcomes regularly - at the end of the fiscal year - and as requested by the Assistant Chief of Care Management and Social Work and/or by the Chief of Care Management and Social Work
• Assists less experienced and less knowledgeable staff with technical expertise and guidance for patients with unusual or complicated medical and mental health conditions - risk factors - and ethical or legal circumstances
• Includes the interpretation of VHA Directives - Medical Center Policies - Program Handbooks - and applicable state laws and guidelines
• Addresses the most difficult - challenging - complex - and acute patient care needs encountered in the Medical Center treatment areas and communities served
• Coordinates and collaborate with the facility level case management teams to include nurse and social worker case manager
• Establishes collaborative relationships with physicians - psychologists - pharmacists - and other disciplines to foster their involvement in the case management of Veterans
• Advocates on behalf of case management services and facilitate communication with facility executive leadership on case management strengths and challenges
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to assess case manaqement composition - structure and services to identify promisinq practices and gaps in case management services
• Identifies opportunities to enhance communication - collaboration and coordination across the care continuum
• Directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided
• Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of veterans and to promote efficient practice
• Coordinates Social Work services with other services offered in the treatment program - assuring such services are complementary and comprehensive
• Directs activities to maximize effectiveness - efficiency and continuity of care for veterans
• Provides case management services to those veterans at high social - psychiatric - or medical risk - serving as the liaison to other treatment programs
• Represents the program in contacts with other agencies and the public
• Conducts staff development programs for social workers and takes responsibility for providing opportunities to help staff update their Social Work practice skills and acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities
• Promotes the benefits of case management certification for facility case managers
• Develops and facilitates educational programs informing the Veteran consumer and family members regarding available case management services
• Serves as a mentor to other social workers - particularly those at the entry level
• Provides clinical supervision for unlicensed social workers and for social work associates
• Keeps staff fully informed at monthly staff meetings of eligibility criteria - relevant services and changes as they occur within their program
• Recommends and implement changes and improvements across all six major programs
• 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) Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 529070 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized