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

The Primary Purpose of the position isto provide social work supervision to Social Workers assigned to Social Work Service and may maintain a clinical practice caseload depending on workload in the assigned area. Major duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent supervises a group of employees performing work at various GS levels up to their own grade and provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the service. Supervises staff that have various tours to include evenings and weekends. Provides administrative, technical, and clinical Social Work Supervision necessary to accomplish the work in the program; performs the administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised; provides formal and informal feedback and evaluates staff performance; completes focused and ongoing practice evaluations on assigned staff. Incumbent will have established guidelines and performance expectations for staff, clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. S/he provides advice and counsel to staff related to services and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in assigned programs/units. Develops work improvement plans, recommends personnel actions as necessary. Responsible for quality services in assigned areas, including involvement in identification of qualified candidates for vacant positions, development of functional statements and performance standards with personnel. Independently interviews Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths. Serves Veterans, who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or adequate community support network, are poor at self-monitoring, and frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, and/or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support. Evaluates the client's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion. The Social Work Supervisor develops treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members and the Veteran, including goals for clinical treatment. Adjusts the treatment plan and interventions based on changing needs, desires of the Veteran patient, and response to interventions. Provides clinical services to Veterans and family members/significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment and evaluates the social work clinical services provided to Veterans by assigned staff. The incumbent provides individual and group counseling services, including psychotherapy in some settings. Receives and completes requests for services (consults) from interdisciplinary team members and from other social workers on complex, difficult cases, using advanced practice skills and expertise. Makes rapid assessments and develops crisis management plans to maintain patient in the least restrictive setting, working to ensure interventions and/or referrals meet Veteran's whole health needs and well-being especially in terms of supporting secure living arrangements, health lifestyles, and crisis management. Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs for non-institutional, institutional services/programs, and entitlements. Acts as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran/family. Social Work Supervisor identifies veteran patients needing ongoing case management services. Participates in the orientation of new social work staff and other interdisciplinary team members, as appropriate. Supervises social work students and provides a training experience in social work. Oversees program development and evaluation as well as development of policies and care processes in the areas assigned. Manages both program and clinical evaluation of the professional services provided. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Supervisory Social Worker/PD01451F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a master 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/. English Language Proficiency Requirement - Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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). GS 12 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment. 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 Supervisory Social Workers 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) Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. (b) Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. (c) Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services. (d) Ability to provide staff training and development. (e) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. Preferred Experience: 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 compete 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. Physical Requirements: Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Work Environment: The work performed will be within the clinic and the community. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions and adherence to the MEDVAMC Infection Control SOPs. The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard.

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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Joshua Adams
• Phone: 720-495-7667
• Email: [email protected]