Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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: Must 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Individuals assigned as supervisory social workers must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Supervisory Social Worker - GS-13 Experience and 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): (a) Ability to independently organize work - set priorities - and meet multiple deadlines
• (b) Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.(c) Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers
• (d) Ability to delegate authority - manage priorities - coordinate work - and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion
• (e) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems - develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations - and use data effectively to manage workload - quality - performance - and productivity within the service
• (f) Ability to provide staff training and development
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/50 Part II - Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation.

Duties

• Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) is a unique organization within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that provides readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans - active military Service members whose service was in support of combat operations - who suffered a military sexual trauma - provided direct emergent medical care or mortuary services to casualties of war - or who served as a member of an unmanned aerial crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat zone or are of hostility - and their families
• Readjustment counseling consists of direct counseling services - community outreach (face-to-face connection) - and referral services to community providers - VA and non-VA
• This position is multidisciplinary and maybe filled as a Social Worker - Marriage and Family Therapist - Psychologist or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - at the Program Manager/Coordinator level
• Serves as a Supervisory Social Worker RCS Vet Center Director (VCD) and is responsible for the professional and administrative supervision and oversight of all readjustment counseling - outreach - referrals and follow-up care coordination services provided to eligible individuals within the designated Vet Center Service Area (VSA)
• The VCD supervises both professional and nonprofessional staff including a multi-disciplinary team of social work and other mental health professionals of various performance levels who work in multiple locations (Vet Centers - Vet Center Outstations and Community Access Points) and in communities distance from the Vet Center through planned outreach - often in conjunction with a Mobile Vet Center VCD is responsible for Administrative & outreach staff service functions - ensuring that the needs of individuals in their VSA are met The Supervisory Social Worker oversees the fiscal - contractual and operational obligations of the community-based Vet Center VCD leads with coordination and briefing during meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff Leads in Planning - establishing and implementing Vet Center policies and procedures - developing staff goals and objectives - monitoring - coordinating and evaluating the work of all Vet Center Staff - including Social Workers - other Hybrid Title 38 Mental Health Professionals - Title 5 Readjustment Counselors - outreach workers and Program Support Assistants Provides direct readjustment counseling services within and outside of the Vet Center to include in-person and virtual services Perform other duties as assigned Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Mon-Fri
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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 # 64523A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized