Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - RANGE Program

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in veterans' healthcare is seeking a dedicated Program Coordinator to lead the Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement program. This full-time role emphasizes the importance of providing clinical community-based services to Veterans with severe mental health challenges. The ideal candidate will possess a master's degree in social work and relevant licensure, demonstrating strong program coordination skills. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of Veterans, ensuring they receive the necessary support and resources for their mental health needs. Join a passionate team committed to enhancing the quality of care for those who have served our country.

Benefits

37-50 days of annual paid time off

Paid parental leave

Child care subsidy

Traditional federal pension

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Retirement contributions

Telework available (Ad-hoc)

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from an accredited school required.
• Must be licensed to independently practice social work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee clinical services and programming for Veterans with high clinical complexity.
• Provide administrative leadership and supervise case managers.

Skills

Program Coordination

Psychosocial Assessments

Treatment Interventions

Community Resource Knowledge

Supervisory Skills

Policy Writing

Time Management

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work

Job description

Summary

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Program Coordinator for the Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program. This vacancy will be filled with either a Social Worker (Program Coordinator) or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator).

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.
• 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 CSWE Accreditation.
• 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 VA OHRM.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator):
  1. Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which is defined as: Working knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
  2. Independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.
  3. Working knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures.
  4. Independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals.
  5. Providing consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment.
  6. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
  7. 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
  2. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
  3. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
  4. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  5. Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Assignments: 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.

Program coordinators at the GS 12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area.

The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area.

The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.

They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery.

The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service.

They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds.

The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.

They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff.

They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments.

They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHR) services provide clinical community-based services to Veteran with severe mental illness (SMI), severe functional impairment, and high inpatient mental health unit utilization, in coordination with existing community and VA services.
• The Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement RANGE programs serve Veterans who meet criteria for ICMHR services in rural areas or less densely populated locations.
• The RANGE Coordinator will remain knowledgeable about National, VISN, and facility level policies and trends related to ICMHR/RANGE Programing.
• The RANGE Coordinator will also serve as a point person and source of information and problem solving regarding ICMHR/RANGE issues for the facility.
• Other duties include providing intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, Veteran groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to ICMHR Veterans.
• This position will function independently to provide administrative leadership to plan, develop, implement, and oversee clinical services and programming for Veterans that have a high degree of clinical complexity.
• The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for all case managers (exception of nursing) and administrative staff within the ICMHR/RANGE Program.
• Supervisory responsibilities include performance evaluations, time, and leave, hiring, and disciplinary decisions.
• The RANGE Coordinator may also assist with training and education to include residents, interns, and practicum students.
• Duties include, but are not limited to: Complete consults and RANGE Evaluations using measurement-based care, bringing the findings to the team to determine acceptance into the RANGE program or to provide recommendations for an alternative level of care that is clinically indicated.
• Function as case manager for Veterans in the ICMHR program performing duties to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care.
• Participate in the development of a treatment plan for each ICMHR Veteran with measurable goals outlined based on relevant psychological, medical, and psychiatric information with the principles of treatment matching.
• Assist ICMHR Veterans in the preparation of materials needed for applications to various agencies for entitlements, then follow the process of the application until a determination has been made.
• Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans encounter when interacting with government and community agencies.
• Serve as therapist in treatment groups, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy as needed.
• Responsible to stay updated on current theory, treatment modalities, and best practices by reading professional journals, attending conferences, and among other approved methods.
• Assess the ICMHR Veterans learning needs regarding their substance use issues, psychiatric and medical disorders, and the treatments and medications required, incorporating teaching in the treatment.
• Help with medication management for ICMHR Veterans.
• Conduct home visits and community visits to ICMHR Veterans to maintain and encourage community living.
• Collaborate with Adult Foster Care (AFC) homes where ICMHR Veterans reside to facilitate community living in the least restrictive environment and to provide support services for the AFC homes.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• 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: Available (Ad-hoc). Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.