Social Worker (Program Manager)

Summary

This Social Worker (Program Manager) position serves The Mental Health Service (MHS) Deputy Associate Chief of Staff (DACOS) Social Work Discipline Lead at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) and functions as an advisor to the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health Services (ACOS) and works collaboratively with the Social Work & Care Transitions Service to ensure the provision of high-quality social work services.

Duties

Duties of the Social Worker (Program Manager) include, but are not limited to: Serves as a member of the MHS Executive Team collaboratively working with the MHS ACOS and other MHS DACOS Discipline Leads to make informed, service-level decisions compliant with national, VISN and local facility directives, handbooks, policies, and procedures. Serves as a champion for all National Directives related to patient care ensuring on-going service-level compliance to National Directives (i.e., same-day access to care, suicide prevention, etc.) Provides oversight/technical assistance to Mental Health Program Leaders on performance measures across MHS (i.e., SAIL, ORYX, HEDIS, etc.) Provides administrative oversight to assigned programs within MHS including a large Domiciliary, CAVHS' Comprehensive Homeless Center and Day Treatment Center, PRRC, Recreational Therapy Services and Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services. This includes advising, developing, educating, monitoring, and working collaboratively with Program Leaders to develop action plans, program criteria, evaluate programs, improve processes, and negotiate with other internal/external departments and partners. Conducts regular briefings with assigned MHS Program Leaders to stay current on the status of assigned program and provide updates to MHS Executive Team and leadership Serves as a second-, third- and fourth-line supervisor to staff in assigned programs Advises service-level and executive management on clinical or administrative issues within the assigned MHS programs and serves as a mentor to subordinates and peers and as a consultant to Mental Health and CAVHS Management Serves as an ambassador for MHS frequently representing MHS Leadership in facility meetings, functions, and committees. Working with internal/external stakeholders to gain feedback, problem solve processes and improve services. Disseminates information in a timely, efficient manner Frequently organizes congressional and White House responses and assists program leaders with complaint resolution Monitors the Patient Advocate Tracking System (PATS) daily; facilitating resolution of patient concerns, suggestions, and complaints Serves as the fiscal backup for the MHS Business Manager as an alternate Approving Official for purchase card holders, IPPS payment system for contracts and approving official for contracting services Demonstrates high-level administrative skill in the provision of Social Work services and frequently collaborates with Social Work Services & Care Transitions (SWS&CT)Chief, facility, VISN and National Program Leaders to coordinate service provision by MHS Social Workers Oversees all aspects of Social Work education within MHS including MHS involvement in the SW&CT Service Internship program. Social Work Field Instructors report directly to the Social Work Discipline Lead on all aspects of Social Work Training Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 598-01555-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 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/. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Program Manager), GS-14 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. 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, disciplinar