The incumbent serves as the SCI/D, ALS and MS Program Expansion Coordinator in the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) Service with primary focus on Outreach and Expansion of the program to increase access to care for Veterans living with SCI/D, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in New Jersey and increasing support to their Family Caregivers.

Duties

The incumbent has experience and clinical background in serving Veterans living with SCI/D, MS, and ALS, understanding the support Family Caregivers to this Veteran population needs, experience with Whole Health initiatives and the use of Virtual Care Technologies to increase access to care for the Veterans. The incumbent coordinates wide-range outreach and program expansion initiatives to increase access to specialized care for Veterans living with SCI/D, MS and ALS and support of their Caregivers by working with all clinical services across all campus locations within the VA Health Care System (HCS), the VAMCs in VISN4 (which is VANJHCS' catchment area, as per VHA Directive), VHA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence, VHA ALS Program, Non-VA medical facilities and health organizations in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, local and national Veterans Service Organizations and Caregivers organizations. In this leadership role, the incumbent provides support to the Chief of Service by analyzing, evaluating, advising on and/or coordinating the health care delivery operations of the Service. The incumbent is expected to render advice on operational policies and assures these policies are coordinated with, and in support of the operations of the Service. Development, Administration, Management -Works closely with the Chief of Service in the development and execution of strategic plans to increase the enrollment of eligible Veterans into the VANJHCS. -Explores and develop outreach initiatives to seamlessly get Veterans with SCI/D, MS and ALS who are not getting their care from the VHA educated on the VHA and enrolled into the VHA for all or specialized aspects of their care. -Works with VA, Non-VA and DOD Staff who are responsible for transferring Veterans to VANJHCS Spinal Cord Service. Coordinates with the SCI Social Worker Coordinator and Chief of Service, on all pertinent documents requirements before patient is accepted to the facility, which process also includes establishing eligibility for care. -Interfaces with the SCI/D Chief, SCI/D staff, various Services in the facility, the Leadership of VANJHCS, VISN2, VISN4 and VACO to develop, monitor, and to improve services provided to the Veterans and support to their Family Caregivers, staff performance and/or communications. -Works with physicians and staff to develop, implement, and evaluate systems to enhance Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder Service/MS Center of Excellence New Jersey Hub/ VANJHCS ALS Program 's productivity as well as provider productivity. -Works closely with the Chief of Service on Providers Productivity data, analyzing and making recommendations for staff and clinic utilization effectiveness to increase capacity to meet the needs of current and newly recruited Veterans into the VA system. -Performs needs analysis, data analysis, and utilization reviews to forecast and plan future needs of the Service (e.g., capacity, space, equipment, market shifts, etc.) -Ensures that waiting times in clinical areas are within established standards. Data -Data Validation/Analysis (e.g., VERA, DSS, VSSC) -Systematic analyses of historical data and trends; formulation of work distribution charts, workflow charts; and compilation of workload data to assure compliance with standards and improve efficiency. -Securing, coordinating, and preparing statistical reports and other information for the staffing statistics, organizational charts, CDR, Employee Evaluations, etc. Quality Assurance: -Monitoring, trending, and recommending strategies to improve compliance with the National, VISN and Medical Center Performance measures and monitors. -Monitoring and assisting in the implementation of the Service's quality assurance program. -Conducting systematic reviews and studies for analyzing management problems within the Service. Fiscal -Arranging for the procurement of supplies, equipment, and instruments; and assures compliance with budgetary limitations. -Evaluating and advising the Chief and Supervisors as applicable, on the contract services, and service contracts, equipment, patient care contracts, and staffing issues related to them. -Assessing operating costs and developing budgets. -Writing summaries, reports, and reviews on topics concerning budgets and equipment. -Designing, developing, and generating special reports, studies, or projects, as required. Administrative Reports: The incumbent monitors, assesses, offer suggestions, and writes reports concerning: - Adequacy of personnel, space, and budget. - Program's needs and explores methods of obtaining necessary resources. - Compliance with quality control and proficiency testing programs, safety standards, accreditation requirements, and agency policies. Additional Duties as Assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 49573F 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 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 master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Practicum in a VA Setting. A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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 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: (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 Preferred Experience: applicant with a valid, unrestricted driver's license and experience with Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis and ALS interfacing with VA and non VA agencies dealing with issues pertaining to SCI/D, ALS, MS and leadership skills is preferred. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13.

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 VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]