The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) for the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) has the primary responsibility of providing clinical evidence-based services and interventions; program development; caregiver, Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality-improvement activities and evaluation/consultation.

Duties

If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12134745-23-AB The duties of the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) Social Work Coordinator include, but are not limited to: Develops and implements the General Caregiver Support Program specific to his/her area of assignment and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives. Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to caregivers, families and Veterans. Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran communication to identify and assess caregiver stress/burden and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions. Creates educational tools, develops programs and implements training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues. Provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families and caregivers. Provides ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver support. Develops and facilitates caregiver support groups (face-to-face or virtual) and educational programs. Conducts caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues. Coordinates with other disciplines within the medical center to maintain the Veteran Assessment Clinic, for the purpose of providing a comprehensive assessment for the veterans and caregivers in the General Caregiver Support Program and seeking assistance from the program. Provides referral to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs. Serves as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes caregivers, Veterans and families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Maintains a knowledge base of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals, attending conferences, clinic seminars and teleconferences, and materials distributed through VA and private sector sources. Collaborates with the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), mental health and geriatric primary care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues. Develops a library of caregiver support information materials for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings. Serves as a liaison between the VA and community agencies. Participates in caregiver support activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of the caregiver. Serves on state and local caregiver support committees. Collaborates with other clinical staff and program managers, establishing a caregiver support protocol (resources, education and training) sensitive to the issues of the caregivers who are providing care to our youngest returning Veterans. Coordinates the events and programs for the annual National Family Caregivers Month every November that includes announcement and advertising of month-long activities, mobilization of participants, educational sessions, caregiver recognition events and caregiver support programs. Collects, analyzes and reports program data to local management, VISN Caregiver Support Coordinator Lead and the National Caregiver Support Program, Care Management and Social Work Service, Office of Patient Care Services. Evaluates program progress and outcomes and utilizes data to continuously modify and improve the program and processes. Performs a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to state, local, private agencies, and universities. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 564-00803-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. English Language Proficiency: Applicants 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. 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. 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-12 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. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as a social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: a. Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. b. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. c. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. d. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). e. Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Preferred Experience: Experience with age population from young adult to geriatric patients and their families. Experience developing learning plans/home care plans for family caregivers of elderly adults to follow. Experience planning, writing and providing formal presentations to diverse communities, professionals and stakeholder groups. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard dated September 10, 2019. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work includes: Ability to sit at a desk working at a computer; Ability to engage in light to moderate physical activity, including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies; Ability to perform light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others; Walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center; Standing for extended periods of time; Sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams; Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, extensive reading, and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting and in patient's homes. While working in an office/clinic setting there are minimal risks that require normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. While working in patient's homes there are minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions. These work environments requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once, sometimes in stressful situations.

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.

Contacts

• Address Fayetteville AR VA Medical Center 1100 North College Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72703 US
• Name: April Bookout
• Phone: 315-800-7297
• Email: [email protected]