Community Health Social Work Program Coordinator

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligibility

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a qualified social worker (GS-0185) within VHA. Must hold a CSWE-accredited Master's in Social Work and state licensure at the advanced practice level.

Citizenship per VA policy; grandfathering provisions may apply. Strong program coordination, policy development, and supervisory capabilities are required. The role emphasizes leadership of multidisciplinary teams, development of guidelines, and staff training.

Qualifications

• Citizenship requirements per VA policy; qualified to work in the U.S.
• Master's degree in social work from CSWE-accredited program; transcripts may be requested.
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s level.
• Grandfathering provisions may apply; review qualification standards for specifics.
• Knowledge of program coordination and administration, policy writing, supervision, organization, and training.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and administer social work programs within the VA system.
• Supervise multidisciplinary staff and provide supervision for licensure.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, and evaluate program areas.
• Provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Skills

Program coordination

Policy writing

Supervision

Time management

Training and development

Education

Master's in Social Work

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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:

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). 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. A copy of transcripts must be submitted with your application package to verify that you meet the education requirements, unless you are qualifying under the Grandfathering Provision.

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/.

• NOTE: Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

Grandfathering Provision:

The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

1. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
2. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
4. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
5. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

NOTE:

If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

GRADE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Experience/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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities -

In addition to the experience above, candidates 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.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Preferred Experience:

Preferred experience 1-2 years in community health nursing home environment. Experience with LTC, STR, and SVH discharge planning. Community nursing home oversight and complex nursing home case management. Experience working with Medicaid, Medicare, Home Health Aide, NSC pension aid, and Attendance and Knowledge of VA benefits and programs.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, typing, talking, and use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. Light lifting, under 15 pounds, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Hearing (aid permitted). This position requires regular driving to and from multiple locations attached to the WJBD VA Health Care System as well as its community partners.