Social Worker (Program Manager) - Homeless and Vocational Programs

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy & submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.

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/.

Drivers License: A valid state drivers license is required as this position requires local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans through the use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements.

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-14 Social Worker Program Manager: Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Individual 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 manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.

Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.

Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

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 which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; 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.

Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.

Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.

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

Physical Requirements: The Incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others.

May carry and lift items weighing up to 20 pounds. Major Duties:

Senior Program Management Responsibilities: Assists the DACOS in the overall operation of Homeless and Vocational Programs Section.

Maintains supervisory responsibility of the supervisors of the following programs: Housing and Urban Development/VA Supported Housing (HUD/VASH), Tribal HUD/VASH, Freedom's Path Enhanced Use Lease (EUL), Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO), Community Employment Coordinator, Grant and Per Diem (GPO), Homeless Peer Support, Compensated Work Therapy (both Transitional Work and Supported Employment) Develops and maintains a high-quality case management and care coordination while meeting all VISN and VACO Environment of Care and programmatic requirements, utilizing VISN and VACO program office resources for guidance and consultation.

Fosters a cohesive interdisciplinary team environment. Oversees quality control issues and performance measures with the DACOS.

Oversees and coordinates activities related to accreditation within section, including CARF and Joint Commission.

Oversees compliance with and successful execution of Mental Health Performance Measures, SAIL, workload, VERA capture, Veteran satisfaction, and quality assurance.

Meets regularly with the DACOS in regard to all issues related to Homeless Programs Section. Actively participate in Local and Regional Homeless Coalitions in Montana.

Supervisory Responsibilities: First line supervisor for the program coordinators/supervisors of the following programs: Freedom's Path Enhanced Use Lease (EUL), Grant and Per Diem (GPO), and Compensated Work Therapy (both Transitional Work and Supported Employment) Oversees the function of these programs monitoring their quality and service delivery.

Works cohesively with the DACOS to assure that all aspects of case management and care coordination are functioning optimally.

This includes strategic planning, setting operational priorities and deployment of resources, engaging in quality improvement, performance measure outcomes, and encouraging and improving team-oriented care for Veterans.

Acts as a member of the leadership team in the Mental Health service line and is involved in Clinical Leadership Meetings.

Work closely with all Mental Health supervisors and staff on issues related to performance, workload, and Veteran satisfaction.

Meet frequently DACOS Service to discuss/resolve clinical and administrative issues.

Clinical Responsibilities: Independently provides biopsychosocial assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the clinical setting.

Has working knowledge and experience in use of mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures; this includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.

Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. Provides education to both patients and family members regarding relevant mental health concerns.

Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy and psychoeducation Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint.

Is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

Develops, implements, and documents the mental health treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients.

Complies with MTVAHCS Bylaws and other documentation requirements, including timely completion of prescribed templates for documenting results of assessment, treatment, and risk evaluation contacts.

Achieves clinical workload expectations as established by the DACOS.

Provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy and advanced level case management interventions used in the treatment of veterans with serious medical and psychiatric disorders.

The Section Chief provides services that access the continuum of care from outpatient, independent and institutional settings.

The incumbent will meet veterans in the community to facilitate treatment plans as needed.

Education and Training: Develops and maintain mental health counselor internship opportunities Provides clinical supervision and/or training for medical residents, medical students, mental health counselor interns, nurses, or other trainees Serves as subject matter expert on credentialing, scope of practice, FPPEs, and OPPEs for professional mental health counseling discipline Work Schedule: Negotiable between applicant and hiring manager.

Functional Statement #:436-612340 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact mailto:rita.owens@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more