The Chief Social Worker leads a service of 150 or more staff members. Responsible for defining the mission and vision of the Service, developing the scope of practice for all social workers, designing a Social Work Service Plan of Care, and assuring implementation of quality improvement measures. Responsible for developing, planning, clarifying, administering and managing Social Work Services for all areas of the Medical Center.

Duties

The Chief of Social Work is the highest-level Social Work professional position at the facility with full responsibility for professional practice of all facility Social Workers provision of complex social work services which can include interdisciplinary programs and staff, requiring advanced practice skills. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Provides supervision to the Social Work Service with multiple sections or programs across the health care delivery system as well as the assistant chief of social work and supervisors. Has full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for a social work service with multiple programs. Responsible for the strategic planning and operation of Social Work Service. The employee is responsible for ensuring the administrative and clinical supervision of social work staff in their professional role. Oversees all professional social work activities within the medical center ensuring that educational and quality of care functions related to the psychosocial needs of veterans are met. Collaborates with others in negotiating, deciding upon and/or coordinating social work-related changes affecting other programs. Participates in making major decisions affecting the basic content and character of the operations of programs. Reviews information pertaining to the social work programs from a variety of sources (e.g., federal, state and local including Veterans Health Administration, Develops procedures for and ensures the implementation and achievement of the provision of social work services to medical facility patients on inpatient and outpatient programs. Identifies problems and corrective actions needed and reports results to top management both orally and in writing, when required. Develops and monitors standards of clinical practice/standards of care for Social Work, including development of care guidelines, manuals and guides to professional practice. Justifies resource needs and develops appropriate requests in line with local policies and procedures. Establishes a system and procedures to monitor and control the financial resources assigned to Social Work Service. Assists professional social work staff in developing career goals and identifying appropriate continuing education activities and opportunities to facilitate the attainment of these goals. Responsible for ensuring the assessment, evaluation and recommendation of personnel actions based upon clinical practice to the appropriate Social Work Standard Board. Briefs management orally and in writing on a regular basis concerning matters related to Social Work Service, in order to provide information required to make effective decisions for program planning. Serves as a consultant to management and other professional staff directly or through committees concerning a wide variety of matters related to the social work profession in order to provide professional advice and assistance in matters related to Social Work Service Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Chief Social Worker/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States 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. Note: 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 advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Service Chief) GS-14 Experience/Education: One year ofexperience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. The chief social worker must have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. May have certification or other post-masters 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, and recommendations of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice. Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections. Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements. Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements. Assignment. At the GS-14 grade level, size, scope, significance and impact are greater than the GS-13 grade level. The chief social worker responsibility includes management of large, complex, social work services within the organization. The chief social worker is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The chief social worker provides supervision to social work service, with multiple sections or programs across the health care delivery system as well as an assistant chief and supervisors. Social work service includes staff members of different grades, as well as multiple disciplines, various treatment sites and at locations close to and distant from the medical center. The chief social worker has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision of the service. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Mostly sedentary. May require occasional light lifting and foot travel. Driving travel to community based clinics and ambulatory care centers, as needed up to 400 miles round trip. Air travel possibly required for special purposes. Preferred Experience and Certifications Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

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 Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073 US
• Name: Sharlene Harrigan
• Email: [email protected]