The Supervisory Social Worker Service Chief is responsible for defining the mission and vision of the service and is responsible for supervising and evaluating the performance of supervisors and other direct reports. The incumbent serves as the liaison to other service or care lines, other facilities, VISN and VACO offices. This position also serves as liaison with Veterans Benefits Administration Offices, other government agencies, and the community.

Duties

Responsible for the strategic planning and operation of the CMSW Service. Supervises a group of employees performing work at various GS levels (social workers, LPMHCs/LPCs, NPs, RNs, program support assistants, etc.) and provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit/service including outreach efforts, outpatient clinic involvement, and efforts at other sites across the WCHCS. Oversees all professional social work activities within WCHCS ensuring that educational and quality of care functions related to the psychosocial needs of Veterans are met. Makes decisions regarding work problems presented by subordinate social work supervisors. Makes selections for supervisory and non-supervisory positions, hear group grievances and serious employee complaints, review serious disciplinary cases (i.e., those proposing suspensions and removals), and disciplinary problems involving key employees. Participates in making major decisions affecting the basic content and character of the operations of programs. Ensures 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 the WCHCS goals. Reviews information pertaining to the social work programs from a variety of sources and identifies requirements which must be expressed in medical facility written policies and procedures, drafts such statements or assigns tasks to subordinates to insure their completion. 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. Performs, or assigns responsibility and reviews, the results of Social Work Service internal evaluation for program effectiveness. Develops and monitors standards of clinical practice/standards of care for Social Work, including development of care guidelines, manuals, and guides to professional practice. Ensures resource management that includes reviewing and analyzing data pertaining to the psychosocial needs of patients and families and determines what resources (money, staff, space, equipment) are available. Justifies resource needs and develops appropriate requests in line with local policies and procedures. 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, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) requirements, licensing requirements, and other VA required training. Ensures personnel management that includes resolving employee complaints, grievances, or other related matters within the context of the union contract, local policy, and appropriate personnel policies, procedures, and requirements. Establishes and maintains functional statements and position descriptions or ensures the establishment for each position in CMSW Service to ensure the existence of accurate, detailed descriptions of all duties performed by staff. Reviews applications, interviews applicants and selects, or concurs in the selection of, the best qualified staff available to fill vacancies in the CMSW Service. Appraises performance of social work supervisors or reviews performance appraisals made by subordinate supervisors, to determine the level of performance for each CMSW Service employee. Rewards appropriate performance, or reviews and concurs, in award recommendations from subordinate supervisors of employees in the CMSW Service to ensure that high level performance is recognized. Counsels employees regarding poor performance or other unsatisfactory situations, takes disciplinary or appropriate action when necessary, or reviews or concurs in disciplinary actions or other appropriate actions or recommendations from subordinate supervisors, concerning CMSW Service employees. Work Schedule: M-F, 08:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 56775-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: -United States Citizenship Be a citizen of the United States -English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) -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. Grade Determinations: Social Worker-Service Chief- GS-14 -Experience/Education 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 must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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 The chief social worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. AND -Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-KSAs In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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 At the GS-14 grade level, size, scope, significance and impact are greater than the GS-13 grade level. The chief social worker responsibility includes management of large, complex, social work services within the organization. The chief social worker 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 chief social worker 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 chief social worker has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision of the service. Preferred Experience: Manager Experience References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 Physical Requirements: Duties are performed in an office setting and/or on hospital wards and clinics where there is exposure to communicable diseases common of the client population. May require off site visits to agencies or home visits.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Michael Rosales
• Phone: 5207921450 X16269
• Email: [email protected]