The Health Systems Specialist (HSS) is assigned to Social Work Service Line (SWSL) at the Washington DC VA Medical Center (DCVAMC). The HSS uses an understanding of the critical balance between the administrative and clinical functions in the health care delivery system to serve as a resource for the Social Work leadership and to effectively provide the best possible patient care services.

Duties

The Health System Specialist position requires the ability to apply analytical skills and specialized principles and practices of health care to advising management and carry out the duties of the position. The Health System Specialist engages daily in detailed analysis of problems and trends which impact the provision of quality health care services within the Social Work Service Line. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Assists in the administrative management of clinical services provided via various programs within Social Work Services to include interpretation of administrative policies, development, and implementation of new/revised local policies. Manages various clinical programs through knowledge and skills in dealing with organizations, methods, funds, supplies, equipment, and other tools or resources of management. Contributes to the key areas of program development, management of financial resources, procurement, property management, contract physician management, reports, records management, emergency planning, and/or similar related activities, and works collaboratively with the group practice manager performing clinic practice management functions. Serves as the Contract Officer Representative (COR), overseeing clinical services and specialties to various staffing and equipment contracts within the Social Work Service Line. Analyzes programs and services utilizing a variety of statistical, cost analysis, and industrial management techniques, such as cost benefit and cost effectiveness analysis to provide current and up-to-date information necessary for use in the higher-level decision-making processes. Conducts feasibility studies of SWSL clinic service delivery systems and provides detailed analysis and recommendations to Social Work leadership. Utilizes management tools such as qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. Oversees the development of evaluation criteria and monitoring mechanisms for programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD231950 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Pending Approval Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR Specialized Experience: (for positions above GS-5): Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. OR, Special Provision for Inservice Placement: Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; Practical assignments providing an opportunity to apply health system administration skills and principles (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement and Time-in-Grade requirement, applicants must have the specialized experience as described below: GS-12 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Having excellent oral and written communicating skills; analyzing program data and information systems; making recommendations for improvement, and working collaboratively with the group practice manager performing clinic practice management functions. Preferred Experience: Completed, or will complete, COR training and/or Ordering Officer Authority. Managing contracts and care agreements with assistance as needed; this includes maintaining administrative files, completing procurement packages, and completing CPARS reports. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAttention to DetailContracting/ProcurementCreative ThinkingFlexibilityIntegrity/HonestyOral CommunicationWriting Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, bending, carrying light items such as paper, books, small parts, writing reports, writing clinical notes, using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopy machines, and possibly driving an automobile. Some work is performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable disease common of the homeless population. Strenuous physical activity is not required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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 Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Latoya Bechet
• Phone: 713-494-8268
• Email: [email protected]