Summary The Integrated Community Services (ICS)/Social Worker Section Chief plans, implements, directs, and provides clinical and administrative oversight to Mental Health Service Line Social Work activities, including requirements for staff, budget, equipment, supplies, and the full range of psychotherapeutic programming offered to the Veteran population. Responsibilities Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent effectively handles supervisory responsibilities and programmatic oversight to provide patient centered care across Social Work service in the Mental Health Service Line programs to meet or exceed expectations from within and outside the medical center. The incumbent will also provide treatment services in a multidisciplinary setting composed of social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, psychopharmacologists, nurses and other staff. Duties include but are not limited to: Plans, implements, and provides clinical and administrative oversight to Mental Health Service Line Social Work service activities, including requirements for staff, budget, equipment, and supplies. Has direct or indirect (through subordinate supervision) administrative, professional, and/or clinical supervision of subordinates. (Please list number and categories of subordinates). Has professional supervision of staff within the same discipline. In collaboration with the Social Work Chief, has programmatic oversight and shared responsibility for the discipline of Social Work within the Mental Health (MH) Service. Directly responsible for 5 distinct programs within Social Work/Mental Health, including: - Homeless Programs - Mental Health Intensive Case Management - Suicide Prevention - Psychosocial Rehabilitation Recovery Program - Therapeutic Supportive Employment Services Has line and staff authority for resource allocations for the discipline of Social Work within the Mental Health Service. Ensures efficient operation for the discipline of Social Work and Community Care Programs within the Mental Health Service. Management of Human Resource aspects of Mental Health Service Line Social Work operations, including hiring and disciplinary action, Labor/Management relations, and performance appraisals. Responsible for all professional, management, and administrative aspects of the service or organizational entity. Supervision and resource management involve major decisions, and work activities and supervision significantly impact the ability of staff to provide comprehensive services to Veterans. Develop policies, standard operating procedures, performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements for Social Work/MR JCS Programs. Monitors the clinical performance of staff, conducts performance appraisals, and performs other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied. Sets training objectives for staff and delegate responsibilities to subordinate programs/sections. Prepares special reports at the facility, VISN and CO level, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs, and decision papers for the medical center leadership, which can be highly sensitive, confidential, and complex in nature. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45am- 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 61215F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Candidates 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: The Chief Social Worker must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. 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: Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-14 Level: Appointment to the GS-14 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 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 judgement. May have certification or other post-masters 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. Must also be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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. 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. Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
