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 and submit your EDRP application within 4 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. The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as a Social Worker in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement - You 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). Note: 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. Transcripts Required Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Social Worker at the advanced practice level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Copy of Licensure Required. In addition to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following experience to qualify for this GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) position: Grade Determinations: Experience GS-12 Grade Level: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, dated 9/10/2019. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0 Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Social Worker position is in Social Work services at the Bedford VA Healthcare Systems, located at the Bedford, MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. The VA Bedford HCS Social Work Education and Training Director is a Senior Social Worker who is responsible for overseeing and administrating the various facets of Social Work education and training to ensure the provision of current Social Work practice and principles. Responsibilities include: Trains, supervises, and manages Social Work trainees and PSR Fellows, serving as a subject-matter expert within the VA Bedford HCS; Assesses qualifications and ability of current and prospective trainees and Fellows; Develops performance, productivity, and training standards appropriate to each training program within the Social Work Department; Works collaboratively with other disciplines and as well as Social Work supervisors and Social Work intern preceptors; Provides professional advice and consultation in areas related to Social Work services; Provides supervision in areas related to behavioral health and social services; Provides fair, principled and decisive leadership for a work environment that promotes shared accountability; Organizes and implements CEU training events for the Social Work department including trainees and Fellows; Acts in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW); Supervises the development and provision of training of Social Work trainees and Fellows; Communicates with VACO, APA, NASW and our internal Office of Academic Affairs regarding the training programs at Bedford; Provides Quality Assurance reports to a range of audiences related to the development of these training services; Provides a full range of Social Work services including assessment, individual and group interventions, and psychoeducation; Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate; Assists in monitoring Quality Assurance outcomes for the Social Work Department; Serves as Chair of the annual Social Work Symposium, guiding the committee through the preparation and execution of the events; Engages in outreach activities to promote the VA Bedford HCS as a viable educational partner; and Assumes other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 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 Karen Chapman, EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance, at: visn1edrpsupport@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: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 518-F7985 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized These positions are NAGE Bargaining Unit positions. This position is covered by a special rate. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. This position is in the Excepted Service Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
