The Chief is responsible for defining the mission and vision of the Service, developing the scope of practice for all social workers, designing a Social Work Service Plan of Care, and the implementation of quality improvement measures. This position serves as liaison with Veterans Benefits Administration Offices, other agencies, and the community. The incumbent is responsible for advising management of specific clinical or administrative issues within Social Work Service and the medical Center.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the strategic planning and operation of Social Work Service. The employee is responsible for ensuring the administrative and clinical supervision of social work staff in their professional role. Incumbent ensures the provision of social work services and/or case management services in a variety of inpatient and outpatient program areas and clinics. Oversees all professional social work activities within the medical center ensuring that educational and quality of care functions related to the psychosocial needs of veterans are met. To accomplish the functions of this position, close cooperation with leadership, including all other Care Line Chiefs and program, clinic and ward administrators and staff is required. Responsible for making decisions regarding work problems presented by subordinate social work supervisors. Incumbent collaborates with others in negotiating, deciding upon and/or coordinating social work-related changes affecting other programs. The employee will advise Care Line Chiefs on problems involving the relationship of social work activities to the various units and programs. Participates in making major decisions affecting the basic content and character of the operations of programs. These decisions involve matters, such as, determining which program elements should be initiated, dropped, curtailed or emphasized; how many resources should be deployed; the time of curtailing, initiating, and changing program elements; basic program planning and evaluation activities; evaluation of program goals and objectives; decisions on organizational structure and delegated responsibility; measures for improving coordination among subordinate units, and control measures to provide data for management; decisions which have an impact on relationships with other programs and units and which may have the potential for negative media coverage; and decisions regarding ways to substantially reduce operating costs without impairing overall operations, such as, reduction of average length of stay on inpatient programs. Responsible for ensuring technical program development, management and evaluation that includes assessing the mission, goals, programs and problems of the medical facility in terms of psychosocial needs of patients and establishes social work objectives to meet those needs which are consistent with medical center goals. Develops procedures for and ensures the implementation and achievement of the provision of social work services to medical facility patients on inpatient and outpatient programs. Provides, or ensures that professional staff provides advice, assistance and consultation to community health and welfare agencies and councils and other community groups to enhance the provision of social services to veteran patients in the community. Establishes a system and procedures to monitor and control the financial resources assigned to Social Work Service. Identifies resources available in the local community related to patient and family needs for social work service and participates with community groups in the development of such resources. Incumbent reviews the utilization of resources by performing such activities as internal reviews, data collection, reviewing and analyzing reports, reviewing contracts, and reviewing performance, to ensure that resources are being used efficiently and effectively, and reports results to management as required, both orally and in writing. Develops and monitors Social Work staff training to ensure that required training is accomplished for purposes of maintaining ongoing skills, keeping up with new developments in the field, orientation of staff to the VA, Joint Commission requirements, licensing requirements, and other VA required training. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available for well-qualified applicants. Further discussions with selected applicant will be provided during an interview, if conducted.

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. 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. 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. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Grade Determinations - Social Worker (Service Chief) GS-14: 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. Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. The chief social work service must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience includes: Demonstrated possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. Responsible for managing and supervising all aspects of social work operations. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and are in compliance with regulations. Ensuring responsibility for utilization of resources and budget. And, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the grade level experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, and recommendations of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions. Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice. Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections. Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the GS-14 grade level, size, scope, significance and impact are greater than the GS-13 grade level. The Social Work Chief's responsibilities includes management of large, complex, social work services within the organization. The Social Work Chief is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The Social Work Chief provides supervision to social work service, with multiple sections or programs across the health care delivery system as well as an assistant chief and supervisors. Social work service includes staff members of different grades, as well as multiple disciplines, various treatment sites and at locations close to and distant from the medical center. The Social Work Chief has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of the social work service including clinical practice, program management, education, and human resource management. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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 is essential.

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 Beckley VA Medical Center 200 Veterans Avenue Beckley, WV 25801 US
• Name: Tianna Miller
• Email: [email protected]