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. Program 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 incumbent is located at the VA Boston Healthcare System within the Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Support Team. An initiative of VA's national Office of Mental Health (OMH) program office, the MST Support Team works at a national level within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to promote best practices in the field through consultation and technical assistance; to perform national MST-specific monitoring; to provide consultation to VA Central Office on MST-related policy issues; and to respond to information requests from VA leadership and other stakeholders. The Team also is involved with extensive legislative planning and implementation efforts and associated policy development and implementation. a. Coordination of MST-Related Training, Outreach, and Resource Development and Dissemination The incumbent oversees administrative and clinical aspects of the Team's MST-related training programs for VA personnel. This includes coordination, data collection, evaluation, developing and implementing ideas for improvement, and evaluating the efficacy of improvement efforts for the identified programs. Oversees or assists with the development and revision of instructional and outreach materials. The incumbent also provides leadership of multidisciplinary program-related work groups focused on staff training and support, including opportunities for staff to receive continuing education. Also coordinates and expands national outreach programs and materials for Veterans and the general public. Develops campaigns and resources to facilitate Veterans' access to VA's MST-related services, assists facility MST Coordinators in partnering with other VA staff on access-to-care issues, and coordinates initiatives focused on Veterans' experiences with care at VA Medical Centers. Develops resources to raise the visibility of MST-related care in VA facilities. b. Coordination of MST-Related Consultation and Technical Assistance Programming The incumbent takes the lead with coordinating the provision of technical guidance, clinical consultation, and/or administrative assistance to staff and facilities nationwide in the coordination, development, extension, and improvement of MST-related health care services and education, training and outreach efforts. The incumbent provides leadership, direction and coaching for colleagues and oversees administrative aspects of initiatives they lead and is responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing in programs that support this. Oversees program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement, and evaluating the efficacy of improvement efforts. Develops guidance and interventions to assist VA facilities in implementing policies to meet national standards for MST-related services. Develops resources and provides consultation to MST Coordinators and VISN-level Points of Contact regarding strategies for meeting the responsibilities of these positions. c. Development and Evaluation of MST-related Programming and Practice Guidelines The incumbent plays a key role in the development of MST-related programming and practice guidelines. As part of this role, initiates and conducts program or service audits as needed. Contributes to evaluation of current MST-related practices and programming and assesses field needs and gaps in resources available for staff education/training, Veteran outreach, and capacity to provide specialized care to MST survivors nationwide. Partners with other team members on projects designed to enhance VA's national capacity to provide care to Veterans with experiences of MST and evaluates and maintains records on the state of care in the field as needed . d. Communication and Collaboration with Internal and External Partners to Further Program Goals and Enhance Patient Centered Care The incumbent oversees administrative aspects of programs that involve extensive contact with VA staff, serving as a key point of contact and source of information about clinical practices and needs related to MST for the MST Support Team, OMH, and VA Central Office. Applies knowledge of national policies and field practices to respond to inquiries from these groups in a professional and timely manner with limited supervision. Also develops and provides national presentations on MST-related issues for high-visibility stakeholders. Assists in developing memoranda, white papers, and other briefings for VA Central Office on policy implementation, current practices, and VHA's national initiatives related to MST, often on very short notice. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. 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. c. 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/. d. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker Assistant Chief, GS-13 (1) Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. Individual 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. (2) 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. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of administrative and supervisory duties which includes personnel actions, clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement. (b) Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to social work practice. (c) Ability to develop, maintain, and oversee social work programs in all settings. (d) Knowledge of social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. (e) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education 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. This position is restricted to those serving as a full assistant to the chief social work service for both administrative and professional practice. These individuals share with the chief full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations. At the GS-13 grade level, individuals are typically assigned as assistant chief of a large complex social work service within the organization that offers social work services at VHA facilities with one or more divisions. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and the Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who assist and support to the Caregiver Support program, its Veterans and caregivers. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. DEVIATIONS. An approving official may, under unusual circumstances, approve reasonable deviations to the grade determination requirements for an employee whose composite record of accomplishments, performance, and qualifications, as well as current assignment, warrants such action based on demonstrated competence to meet the requirements of the proposed grade. Under no circumstances will the educational requirements be waived. Under no circumstances will licensure requirements be waived for positions at the GS-11 grade level or above. The placement of individuals in grade levels or assignments not described in this standard must be approved by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office prior to placement in the position. Preferred Experience: References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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 Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Tracy Liverpool
• Phone: (734) 545-3004
• Email: [email protected]