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

This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year, up to four years), cover moving expenses to the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, and offer the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) which has a value of $200,000!! The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is hiring one full-time Social Worker to be the Chief of Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine. The Social Worker performs duties including planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating an integrated mental program for both outpatients and inpatients of the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Medical Center (WBVAMC) and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent serves as the first or second line supervisor for MH&BMS staff, in this role the incumbent assesses program needs, allocates resources effectively and efficiently while monitoring their use, works with program managers to develop policies and procedures which are fitted to the needs of each program consistent with Department of Veterans Affairs policies and guidelines designed to promote ease of cooperation between programs, thus facilitating the provision of high-quality care to all Veterans served Promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which is maintained through compliance with credentialing and privileging processes, monitoring and evaluation of clinical practices, peer review, consideration of clinical performance patterns in clinical privileging and other appropriate quality improvement activities Serves as a member of the organized medical staff; attends its meetings; helps to ensure adherence to its bylaws, rules and regulations; works with other health care professionals to establish policies so that all health care professionals practice within the scope of their licenses; consults in developing and maintaining an adequate medical record system; participates in in-service training programs Mental Health services include core and specialty programs outlined in DVA handbook 1162.01 "Uniform Mental Health Services in VA Medical Centers and clinics" and other programs implemented at the discretion of the Medical Center leadership Programmatically and administratively responsible for the delivery of Mental Health Services at all sites of care The incumbent reports to the Chief of Staff (COS) of the Wilkes-Barre VAMC for all MH&BMS clinical, administrative, and quality performance matters The incumbent will also provide direct health care to clients within incumbent's area of expertise Functions in a facility-wide leadership role and is accountable and responsible to assist in the coordination of MH&BMS clinical activities, clinical staff and administrative oversight Demonstrates the ability to work independently yet closely in a coordinated manner with all facility committees and boards Demonstrates the ability to spontaneously communicate relevant aspects of service functioning to the COS and motivate staff to improve services and patient care Assists in coordinating program development to strengthen Mental Health clinical programs and operational issues and advises the COS about the adequacy and appropriateness of the organization's scope of services and its professional and support staff Completes and submits reports, including program development, implementation checklist, fidelity scale, and budget summaries Contributes to the strategic mission, vision, values and goals of the Wilkes-Barre VAMC and participates in local, VISN and national level committees as assigned by the Chief of Staff Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Staff of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 430pm Compressed/Flexible: May be considered after an initial period of work to ensure employee has mastered required duties Telework: Only available on Ad-Hoc basis. The Medical Center will be the work location of this position on a regular basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years) EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized (the VA will reimburse you for your moving costs)

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Language: Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens) Education: You 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. 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 GS-14: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-13, which is directly related to the position to be filled. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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 KSAs Must be Demonstrated in Your Resume Preferred Experience: Management Experience 2-5 years Ability to manage and lead diverse disciplined staff Familiarity with requirements of Office of Mental Health Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application

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 Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: Nicholas Stenta
• Email: [email protected]