VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS) is a Joint Commission accredited, complexity level 1A facility, covering more than 44,000 sq. miles. VA ECHCS has a strong academic affiliation with the University of Colorado, supporting more than 120 residents, 450 medical students, and training over 400 allied health professionals. VA ECHCS currently has 3,458 employees with a budget of $683 million, with more than $20 million in funded research and 166 principal investigators.

Duties

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Serve as a Deputy to Social Work Executive/Chief of Care Management Social Work Service and support a total of about 400 Staff (205 Multidisciplinary Staff in Care Management and Social Work Service and 189 Social Workers in other Services across the health care system). Direct oversight and responsibility over four Complex Specialty Programs: Homeless ,CC&ICM, PACT SW, and Specialty Programs, subject to change or update, with a total of 41 staff across all campuses which includes 2 Registered Nurses, 1 GS 14 SW Section Chief, 14 GS13 Social Work Program Manager, 75 GS12 Social Workers, 73 GS11 Social Worker, 8 SW associates and 6 GS6 Program Support Assistants. Manage staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, program criteria, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements for all of Care Management and Social Work Service as well as assist in credentialing and privileging for 189 Social Workers across other services. Provide analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service across all programs within the service. Develop and monitor staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines across service and overall Social Work Discipline. Develop policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the programs and in participating in facility, VISN and national program development. Serve as Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management (CC&ICM) Co- Champion for the facility and offer consultative services to other VA Facilities and VISNs in CC&ICM implementation across the continuum of psychosocial services. Provides Social Work Practice Expertise and Technical Assistance: The incumbent is the designated expert concerning the provision of case management services. Will assist less experienced and less knowledgeable staff with technical expertise and guidance for patients with unusual or complicated medical and mental health conditions, risk factors, and ethical or legal circumstances. Will provide this assistance for social work and other staff as needed or requested. This includes the interpretation of VHA Directives, Medical Center Policies, Program Handbooks, and applicable state laws and guidelines. The cases presented to the incumbent are often very complicated psychiatric, social, and medical issues including patients in acute, clinical, residential, and community settings involving conditions with complicating psychosocial factors. Will regularly address the most difficult, challenging, complex, and acute patient care needs encountered in the Medical Center treatment areas and communities served. Coordinate and collaborate with the facility level case management teams to include nurse and social worker case managers. Establish collaborative relationships with physicians, psychologists, pharmacists, and other disciplines to foster their involvement in the case management of Veterans. Advocate on behalf of case management services and facilitate communication with facility executive leadership on case management strengths and challenges. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to assess case management composition, structure and services to identify promising practices and gaps in case management services. Education, Coaching, Consulting, and Mentoring: Directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of veterans and to promote efficient practice. Coordinates Social Work services with other services offered in the treatment program, assuring such services are complementary and comprehensive. Directs activities to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and continuity of care for veterans. Provides case management services to those veterans at high social, psychiatric, or medical risk, serving as the liaison to other treatment programs. Represents the program in contacts with other agencies and the public. Provides orientation and on-going training to social workers and interdisciplinary team members. Conducts staff development programs for social workers and takes responsibility for providing opportunities to help staff update their Social Work practice skills and acquire new knowledge in contemporary treatment modalities. Facilitate and/or coordinate training on nationally recognized case management standards of practice to ensure delivery of professional case management services across the healthcare continuum. Promote the benefits of case management certification for facility case managers. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Telework: Available Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-57766-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-14: Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. 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. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program manager 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 the following KSAs: Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development. Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Preferred Experience: Three years experience as a Veterans Administration Manager. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14. 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 of home visits with the ability to drive.

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 Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1700 N Wheeling St Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]