Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Social Worker (Caregiver Support Program Manager) in Spokane, Washington
Summary The incumbent serves as a Social Work Program Coordinator, locally titled Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Manager, which provides a state-of-the-art continuum of services, education, and resources to caregivers of Veterans with complex needs. Responsibilities The incumbent coordinates program implementation with multiple clinical services across all campus locations within the VA Health Care System (HCS), including but not limited to nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and mental health and primary care providers. The incumbent may provide clinical interventions to the Veteran and caregiver populations served by the programs. Duties will include: Establishes and maintains an ongoing education program for Veterans, caregivers, community agencies, students, and staff to facilitate understanding of clinical practice guidelines, mental health issues, readjustment issues, and psychosocial issues facing caregivers. Develops and facilitates CSP-program-focused direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for VA facility staff and the community. Develops and implements a plan for outreach to Veterans and Veteran caregivers who may benefit from the CSP program services (but who do not presently use VA for their health care needs). This includes outreach to current PGCSS and PCAFC participants to inform them of available services. Directly supervises the VA HCS Caregiver Support Coordinator(s) (CSC) and, when applicable, the Program Support Assistant (PSA) and other inter-professional staff assigned to the Caregiver Support Program as outlined in VHA Directive 11152(1), Caregiver Support Program. Coordinates program implementation with multiple clinical services across all campus locations within the VA facility, including but not limited to nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapists; and mental health and primary care providers. May provide clinical interventions to the Veteran and caregiver populations served by the programs. Serves as a liaison to the Veterans Integrated Service Network Program (VISN) CSP Program and the VA Central Office (VACO) Program. Serves as the VA HCS POC for all inquiries and outreach requests regarding eligible PCAFC and PGCSS caregivers. This includes a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., Veterans, family members, state and community agencies, Veterans Service Organizations [VSOs], military support programs, Post Deployment Events, Yellow Ribbon events, National Guard and Reservist Units). Identifies the unmet needs of the caregiver population, their families/significant others, and caregivers. The incumbent works collaboratively with facility, VISN, and VA Central Office staff to develop and implement solutions-participating in national, regional, and VISN operational calls; contributing to national leadership council committees; and implementing cultural transformation initiatives (e.g., Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Campaign for Inclusive Care (CIC), the Rosalyn Carter Institute). Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervision including personnel actions, clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement. Works collaboratively with internal staff, VISN and VACO leadership, and external stakeholders to expedite service delivery. Provides consultation and briefings to other staff and internal/external stakeholders on the special needs of caregivers. Responsible for monitoring performance measures at the local, VISN, and Central Office levels; responding to congressional inquiries; and briefings to providers, VA leadership, community organizations, and other internal and external stakeholders. Develops policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. Manages CSP clinical and business operations, accountability for program effectiveness. Addresses Congressional inquiries, VISN, and VA Central Office action items as requested. Develops a data-driven, continuous quality improvement program with established goals and outcomes to evaluate and document the program's effectiveness. Develops a system to identify family caregivers served by the VA facility including caregivers in the catchment area not enrolled in CSP. Ensures supervised staff who require knowledge and skill development receive the training necessary to execute their duties and certifies staff completion of all required annual and ad hoc training through documentation and reporting. Plans organizes, and coordinates administrative, operational, clinical, and personnel activities for the CSP program and is responsible for all aspects of program staffing, work assignments, budget, treatment services, control points, labor mapping, workload, and clinic utilization within the assigned program area. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. 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/. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED LICENSURE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. ?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. 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 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) 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. COPY OF CURRENT, UNEXPIRED ADVANCED PRACTICE LICENSE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. 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. 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. 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/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 lbs), use of fingers, near vision correctable, depth perception, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotional and mental stability, ability to speak clearly, exposure to outside and inside, dust, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular work hours. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.