This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include, but are not limited to: Assisting in administering information & analytical systems to evaluate/enhance quality of service provided to caregivers, families & Veterans Assisting in development & implementation of information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, caregiver demographics, equipment utilization & caregiver & Veteran satisfaction Assisting in implementation & evaluation of clinical guidelines/protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services Participating in direct caregiver & Veteran communication to identify/assess caregiver stress/burden & development/application of directed clinical treatment interventions Advising/collaborating with interdisciplinary teams throughout medical center on caregiver issues Creating educational tools, developing programs & implementing training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues Providing education & in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families & caregivers Developing, facilitating & ensuring caregiver support groups (face-to-face or VANTS telephone line) & educational programs Conducting &/or ensuring caregiver & family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues Providing referral to VA medical & mental health treatment & to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services & other non-VA entitlement programs Providing referrals or consults, or in some cases direct admission of a Veteran to other VA programs including but not limited to the Community Residential Care Program, etc. Serving as a consultant for information on negotiating complex processes caregivers, Veterans & families encounter when interacting with government & community agencies serving as a liaison between the VA & community agencies & participating in caregiver support activities in the local community & state to promote & recognize the role of caregiver Establishing & maintaining access to electronic social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, secure email & YouTube in accordance with VA policy Providing outreach presentations to community social service agencies, military Guard & Reserve units, Veteran Service organizations & other groups on VA caregiver benefits, programs/services Providing consultation, guidance & expertise to community organizations regarding Veteran caregiver specific issues/needs Promoting VA Caregiver Support Program in coordination with the local VA Public Affairs Officer through interviews with local print, voice & television media Maintaining basic knowledge of local VA medical center programs, community services & VA Central Office caregiver support initiatives In collaboration with the with other clinical staff & program managers, will establish a caregiver support protocol (resources, education & training) sensitive to the issues of caregivers who are providing care to our youngest returning Veterans Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible:Available EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience]or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available 3+ days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit position

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. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-12 Experience and 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Two years of post-MSW experience in an area of specialized social work practice and is independently licensed or certified by a state to practice at the advanced level. Experience working with families and/or caregivers and experience in facilitating caregiver support groups and educational programs. Experience in caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues. Must be familiar with VA and/or local community agencies and resources. Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and collaboration. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 Veterans Health Administration September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), walking (4-6 hours), standing (3-6 hours), repeated bending (1/2 hour), operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception and hearing (aid permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript may 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/.

Accreditation Information: The master's degree must be 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. 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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the Council on Social Work Education website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]