Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities The Social Worker Coordinator serves as the Durham VA Health Care System (DVAHCS) Assistant Outpatient Division Chief (DC) for General Mental Health (GMH), a section within the Outpatient Mental Health Division of Mental and Behavioral Health Service (MBHS). The Assistant Outpatient Division Chief for the GMH section coordinates responsibilities with the Outpatient Division Chief and Associate Outpatient Division Chief and is a member of the MBHS leadership team. The incumbent has broad program management responsibilities which include the operation and management of the General Mental Health BHIP program across the Durham VA Health Care System. Responsibilities include development and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures; oversight of administrative and programmatic resources; and monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process. Decisions made affect staff and other resources associated with the program managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. Such programs deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the medical center and significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans. The social worker will also provide direct clinical care in one of the Durham VAHCS GMH BHIP teams. The Social Work Coordinator Assistant Outpatient Division Chief for GMH works directly with and is supervised by the Outpatient Division Chief. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\ua\UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but not be limited to: 1. Management Duties: a. The incumbent has broad program management responsibilities for the GMH outpatient section which includes oversight, operation, and management of programs. GMH is part of a larger Outpatient Mental Health Division at the Durham VA Health Care System in a rapid growth area of the Veteran population. b. The incumbent has oversight of administrative and programmatic resources of the GMH outpatient section which includes specialized and complex programs, including programming in the GMH outpatient section across all Durham VAHCS sites of care. A primary component of the position is thoughtful implementation of Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams within and across the aforementioned locations. c. The incumbent organizes, directs, administers, and manages all aspects of the GMH outpatient section, including comprehensive planning, developing and implementing policies and procedures, determining program needs within the section, overseeing the quality and quantity of clinical activities, and establishing program initiatives and direction with the limitation of available staff and budget. Some of the core duties include: d. Assesses human resource needs within the GMH outpatient section and coordinates and manages recruitment and selection of staff within the section. i. Develops and implements programs, policies, and procedures to meet the needs of the GMH outpatient section, VHA policy, and national accreditation requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)). ii. Responsible for strategic planning for the GMH outpatient section to ensure the provision of high-quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served; plans, develops, and implements short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the strategic plan for the larger Outpatient Mental Health Division. iii. Oversees the establishment of comprehensive BHIP programming across sites and monitors outcomes and process improvement measurements within the GMH outpatient section using data-driven quality assurance processes. iv. Communicates targeted information and initiatives from MBHS, the medical center, and VHA to GMH outpatient section staff to ensure the section and larger Outpatient Mental Health Division is meeting guidelines and providing high quality care. 2. Clinical Duties: a. Provides treatment of mental health diagnoses, with an emphasis on EBPs within GMH. b. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: individual and group therapies for a full range of mental health problems. c. Consults with and serves as a resource for staff members within the GMH outpatient section, MBHS line and to medical center staff on a wide range of issues related to mental health disorders. d. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Ad-hoc related to agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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). NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13 Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. (f) 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. (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Failure to Obtain License or Certification: In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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 for 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.
