The Social Work Service (SWS) Geriatric & Extended Care (GEC) Supervisory Social Worker is an experienced Social Worker with proven clinical and administration skills who functions independently and has professional and administrative knowledge and responsibilities for planning, organizing, and directing the GEC social work services within the medical center and those that extend to the community.

Duties

Major duties include: Supervises social workers, nurses, and managers within the SWS GEC program(s). Participates in the formulation of Social Work Service policies and procedures, maintains an ongoing evaluation of the social work service delivery in geriatric care, devises and applies appropriate methods for control of quantity and quality of services provided and for improving effectiveness and efficiency of practice. Monitors program growth and assesses need for additional resources/staffing as appropriate. Serves as a subject matter expert on GEC program needs, policies, directives and is responsible for Quality Assurance for the GEC programs. Develops consistent standard operating procedures required to accomplish clinical and administrative interventions and tasks and ensures compliance. Maintains effective professional collaborative working relationships with medical center staff, subject matter experts, veterans, leadership, VISN, VACO, and community agencies in the provision of safe, appropriate, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care and services. Evaluates, analyzes, utilizes, and maintains data, validation tools, research, statistical compilations, and other facility/national metrics to identify trends, needs, barriers. Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised. Addresses and resolves issues in conjunction with departments to include but not limited to, Human Resources, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Employee Relations/ Labor Relations, Reasonable Accommodations, Payroll, Time Keeping, etc. in all functions ranging from hiring actions, grievances, employee complaints, review disciplinary cases (i.e., those proposing suspensions and removals). Obtains and maintains certification as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and ensures that agreements and/or contracts with community agencies are in place per policy. Provides training, consultation, and education to VA staff as well as community agencies on VA policies concerning specific GEC programs. Participate and lead/co-lead project activities and process improvement projects in the hospital and will be expected to complete the Yellow Belt process improvement within two years of the assignment to position at SAVAHCS. Oversees the fiscal matters (including aspects of budgeting including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures) in collaboration with the Chief/Assistant Chief of Social Work Service. Provides clinical duties to include a full range of social work within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, social determinants of health screenings, Advance Directives, Goals of Care, case management, group facilitation, crisis intervention, risk assessments, documentation, safety planning, abuse/neglect/exploitation reporting, psychoeducation, discharge, and other services as appropriate. Ensures all reports, action items, White House letters, Congressional reports, Issue Briefs, and any other correspondence is submitted in a timely and in professional written form. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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. Education. 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. Licensure. A current and active license or are certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level and able to provide supervision for licensure Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. II-G39-4 September 10, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS 0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Preferred Experience/Qualifications: Capable of practicing at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practice typically related to the population served within the Community and Extended Care programs. Incumbent should have a least 2 years' experience in an area of specialized social work practice. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Supervisory Social Worker, GS-13 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. Individual 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above do you demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities below: Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers. Ability to delegate authority, manage priorities, coordinate work, and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems, develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations, and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service. Ability to provide staff training and development. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. Additional information regarding the assignments at the GS-13 Supervisory Social Worker can be found in the appendix referenced above. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor and are generally sedentary in nature but may require occasional travel. Physical activity involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and carrying light items such as papers, books, or other supplies. The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the Veteran/Patient population and their families/caregivers. A level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence is essential.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Cherie Mennel
• Phone: 520-792-1450 X6213
• Email: [email protected]