This position is located within Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The person in this position serves as the Social Worker (Program Coordinator) in the TBI/Polytrauma Services, providing clinical oversight of the TBI/Polytrauma programs including care coordination, managing referrals and consultations, and advising on the collection and reporting of data.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Serve as the subject matter expert for TBI/Polytrauma related social work associated issues. In addition, identify areas of improvement and implement relative to TBI/Polytrauma programs. Participate in direct patient and customer contacts to identify, assess, develop and apply directed clinical treatment interventions; advise and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on related issues. Provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions; program development; caregiver, Veteran and staff education on program related issues; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality improvement activities; and evaluation/consultation. Provide 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. Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans and families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Practice at the advanced level and possess the specialized knowledge of practice that can be differentiated from the independent practice social worker by the ability to expand clinical knowledge in the profession, administer a facility program, provide consultation and guidance to colleagues, role model effective social work practice skills, teach or provide orientation to less experienced social workers, develop innovations in practice interventions, and provide clinical supervision for social work licensure or certification. Develop and establish linkages and collaborate with community healthcare and social service agencies. Communicate and develop effective partnerships with VISN, local, state and federal agencies as well as non-governmental organizations. Adhere to national directives, handbooks, medical center policies, and service policies related to the duty assignment. Develop, implement, and evaluate clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services. Develop and implement information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, Veteran demographics, equipment utilization and customer satisfaction; evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans and families. Collaborate with other clinical staff and program managers to establish a caregiver support protocol (resources, education, and training) sensitive to the issues of the caregivers who are providing care to our youngest returning Veterans. Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for staff throughout the Medical Center. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00 am-04:30pm. Tour of duty subject to change based on agency needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:PDF00801 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. 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 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Experience or 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. Resume must clearly state/document at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Extended periods of standing, bending and carrying light items such as books, medical records and paper is required. Walking long distance throughout the medical center, on units, between divisions, and traveling to CBOC's may be required. Conducting patient encounters in a community setting or in the patient's home environment may be required. This position often places the incumbent in a situation of stress. Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent may come in contact with veteran patients who are hostile, irritated, confused, intoxicated or have a contagious condition. Ability to drive a car and have a valid state license may be required. Exposure to dangerous situation in the community, from traffic accidents to crime is also possible.

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 Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Ju Ju Wang
• Phone: 508-846-2702
• Email: [email protected]