Summary The Social Work Program Coordinator serves at the GS-12 grade level and is administratively responsible for the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder (SCI) program within the NAVAHCS system. The SCI program provides a full-range of care for all eligible Veterans who have sustained injury of the spinal cord or have a generally stable neurologic impairment of the spinal cord. *****Relocation/Recruitment Incentives May be Authorized***** Responsibilities VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\_ua\_UU Incumbent is a practitioner providing direct patient care services in the program area, a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) team model service Veterans who have spinal cord injury. Incumbent manages the daily operation of the program, develops policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. The incumbent manages and controls the use of data related to the program regarding day-to-day functioning and program evaluation. The incumbent ensures the SCI program is in compliance with VHA directives and care is rendered pursuant to the guidance of Clinical Practice Guidelines. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Provide supportive services and case management services to Veterans seeking SCI services and have a timely response to individuals in psychosocial crisis as well as supporting the behavioral health needs of those in crisis. Coordinator will collaborate with the other members of the SCI clinic, and other medical services staff in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans, will ensure equity of access, service, and benefits to this population, and collect, develop, and analyze data from this program, using appropriate clinical indicators and monitoring activities to assure that the care provided is of the highest quality. Responsible for the implementation of written treatment program policies and procedures developed by Social Work Service that are based on coherent empirical and theoretical rationale and are consistent with patient rights and the maintenance of comprehensive written patient progress notes and outcomes. Develops a system to identify SCI patients served by the facility and community who belong in this special disability group. This may involve use of the Spinal Cord Dysfunction (SCD) Registry, Patient Treatment File searches, Veterans Health Information System and Technology Architecture (VistA) and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) records, SCD reports and/or Classification reports, Patient Data Exchange, Network Health Exchange, and contacts within the community. Serves as the point of contact for all inquiries regarding the SCI program. Coordinates an annual comprehensive preventive health evaluation for each enrolled SCI patient at the SCI Center or at an appropriate SCI Outpatient Support Clinic. Prepares SCI program reports for the SCI Center, SCI Support Clinic, SHG Group in VA Central Office, Congress, and other stakeholders. Develops a procedure for referrals between the SCI Center and local VA and/or community hospitals and facilitates appropriate and timely inter-facility transfers. Establishes performance standards for the SCI program that promote quality and efficiency in service to the Veterans in coordination with the overall goals of the medical center and national SCI program. Explores and analyzes long-term care placement options in the community, i.e., assisted living facilities, nursing homes, handicapped accessible housing, and state Veterans' homes. Manages the daily operation of the SCI program and provides accountability for program effectiveness and modification of service patterns to enhance customer satisfaction. Completes psychosocial evaluation and assessment and periodic reassessments of each patient served, which provides a comprehensive social database to identify psychosocial, social, and vocational needs and the appropriate treatment and services to be provided Develops and implements realistic and achievable social work treatment plans, as part of the interdisciplinary treatment plans that reflect an ability to effectively use a broad range of treatment modalities. Advocates on behalf of the Veteran to ensure that services and benefits are obtained in a timely manner and in keeping with the VA's goal for excellence in customer service. Manages and coordinates provision of the following services as appropriate: Activities of Daily Living (ADL); Personal Care Attendant (PCA); Nutritional Management; Prosthetic Appliances; Medical Supplies; Vocational Rehabilitation; Leisure and/or Avocational Interest; Peer Counseling for Families and/or Significant Others; Transportation and Finances; Home Evaluations; Housing Alternatives; and Identification, Development and Utilization of Community Resources. Makes home visits to assess the home environment when appropriate to ensure that services are provided that twill enable the Veteran to live safely and independently. Must be able to provide supervision for licensure Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am -4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. Must pass pre-employment evaluation. 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 Basic Requirements Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 2 years medical patient experience as a social worker. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator). In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. 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. (1) Experience and Education. 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. (2) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information *****Relocation/Recruitment Incentives May be Authorized***** Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.