Social Worker (Program Manager) - Chief of Mental Health

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Spring Valley (WV); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chief of Mental Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs leads both clinical and administrative aspects of the Mental Health Service at the VA Medical Center, guiding service delivery, program management across the health system, and budget oversight.

This role requires a CSWE-accredited MSW, licensure, English proficiency, and demonstrated leadership experience. Applicants pending requirements may be referred, but final hiring awaits licensure and certification.

Qualifications

• Master's in Social Work from CSWE-accredited school.
• Licensure/certification to independently practice social work at the MSW level.
• Proficient in spoken and written English as required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee clinical and administrative aspects of Mental Health Service.
• Coordinate and supervise staff across programs.
• Lead program evaluation, performance improvement, and budgeting.
• Ensure compliance with licensure, accreditation, and standards.

Skills

Supervisory and management skills

Administration of mental health

Compliance with standards

Consultation to leadership

Continuing education requirements

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from CSWE-accredited program

Licensure/certification to independently practice MSW

Job description

The Chief of Mental Health (MH) is responsible for all clinical and administration aspects of the services delivered in Mental Health Service (MHS). Responsible for all aspects of administration in MHS in the relationship to the VA Medical Center at large. Responsibilities are complex in scope and involve organization of service delivery, management of programs across the healthcare system, coordination and supervision of staff, program evaluation, performance improvement and budget.

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 and/or Experience Combination. 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. You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.*Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level, VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker.
• English Language Proficiency. You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Physical Requirements. See VA Handbook 5019 and Physical requirements as described below.

Grandfather Provision.

A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees 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 journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
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 who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations

Social Worker (Service Chief), GS-14

1. Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. The chief social work service must 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.
2. Licensure/Certification. The chief social worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
   • Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, and recommendations of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions
   • Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice
   • Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections
   • 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
   • Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements.

Preferred Experience

Previous experience managing mental health programs, medical residents and/or interns.

Reference

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

Physical Requirements

Majority of work is completed in an office setting. The work of this position of primarily sedentary with occasional walking of short distances. No heavy lifting required. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete a physical as a part of the pre-employment process.