Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (SCI/D) is one of six nationally recognized Veterans Health Administration (VHA) special disability programs. VHA facilities without SCI/D Centers appoint SCI/D program Coordinators to oversee access to care, referrals for treatment services and case management services for spinal cord injured Veterans. The SCI/D Coordinator facilitates efficient and appropriate delivery of care across episodes of care within the Orlando VA Medical Center.

Duties

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 The selected Social Worker will be administratively responsible for the Orlando VA Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder (SCI/D) program. The Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder program provides a full- range of care for all eligible Veterans who have sustained injury of the spinal cord or have a generally stable neurologic impairment of the spinal cord. The selectee will manages the daily operation of the program, develops policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. The incumbent ensures the SCI/D program is in compliance with VHA directives and care is rendered pursuant to the guidance of Clinical Practice Guidelines. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to: Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, admissions, and discharges to and from the SCI/D Center, patient demographics, and patient satisfaction. Develops, implements, and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services and program's effectiveness. Develops policy and procedures to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission and other accrediting bodies and regulatory standards as needed. Serves as point of contact for all inquiries regarding the SCI/D program; which may include Veterans, families, community hospitals and nursing homes, Paralyzed Veterans of America and other Veterans Service Organizations, Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Strategic Healthcare Group and Congressional inquiries. Responsible for management of the nationwide Spinal Cord Injury Dysfunction (SCD) Registry for the facility to include the entering, editing, compiling, analyzing, and updating of Registry data. Coordinates and tracks patient services referred to the SCI/D Center such as Annual Evaluations. Establishes performance standards for the SCI/D program that promote quality and efficiency in service to the Veterans in coordination with the overall goals of the medical center and national Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (SCI/D&D) program. Establishes collaborative relationships with physicians, nurses, and other disciplines to foster their involvement in care of Veterans with SCI/D. Shares expertise and provides consultation to professional staff throughout the facility on SCI/D related issues. Coordinates educational/ training seminar information and disseminates this information to Orlando VA staff. Identifies unmet needs of the SCI/D population and works collaboratively with community agencies, i.e. assisted living facilities, nursing homes, handicapped accessible housing and state's Veterans' homes. Also functions as the Social Work member of the interdisciplinary SCI/D treatment team in the SCI/D outpatient clinic and the Community Living Center providing independent psychosocial and case management functions. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) 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: May be available - Ad Hoc (when necessary or needed) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders GS-12 #80047F

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/19/2024. 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: Must 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: 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/. (NOTE: For those who have a Florida LCSW license, you must be registered with the state as a "Qualified Supervisor" in order to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certification. All others must meet the requirements of their state of licensure to be able to provide supervision for licensure.) English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401 (3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. 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. Preferred Experience: Those candidates with demonstrated experience working with clinically complex patients, the ability to communicate effectively within a interdisciplinary team, and the ability to complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments are highly preferred. In addition, those with the ability to work effectively with community partners regarding difficult placements, transportation, and intensive case management needs are also preferred. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position requires performance of work which involves light physical effort, such as that involved in lifting light files, bending, standing, reaching, operating office equipment such as telephone, copier, fax machine, scanner, etc. The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

Education

Must 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.

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 Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Christopher Cacciapaglia
• Phone: (407) 631-8494
• Email: [email protected]