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. 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. 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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000. To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. 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. 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. c. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. d. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Service Chief) GS-14 Experience/Education. 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 judgment. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 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 of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice. (c) Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections. (d) Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care. (e) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements (f) Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the GS-14 grade level, size, scope, significance and impact are greater than the GS-13 grade level. The chief social worker responsibility includes management of large, complex, social work services within the organization. The chief social worker is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The chief social worker provides supervision to social work service, with multiple sections or programs across the health care delivery system as well as an assistant chief and supervisors. Social work service includes staff members of different grades, as well as multiple disciplines, various treatment sites and at locations close to and distant from the medical center. The chief social worker has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management and supervision of the service. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Applicants must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. DEVIATIONS. An approving official may, under unusual circumstances, approve reasonable deviations to the grade determination requirements for an employee whose composite record of accomplishments, performance, and qualifications, as well as current assignment, warrants such action based on demonstrated competence to meet the requirements of the proposed grade. Under no circumstances will the educational requirements be waived. Under no circumstances will licensure requirements be waived for positions at the GS-11 grade level or above. The placement of individuals in grade levels or assignments not described in this standard must be approved by the Under Secretary for Health or designee in VHA Central Office prior to placement in the position. Preferred Experience: References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-185 Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. ["This incumbent serves as the Chief of Mental Health Service - Social Worker at the Manchester VA Medical Center, VA New England Healthcare System, a Complexity Level 3 facility. The Mental Health Service includes 100+ FTE assigned to various programs/services across the Medical Center, four CBOCs and Brady Sullivan. The Mental Health Service is a major component of the medical center and is comprised of numerous specialty programs including BHIP, Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Suicide Prevention Team, Same-Day Access Team, Primary Care/Mental Health Integration, LGBTQ+ Program, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Program, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Peer Support Program, Outpatient Mental Health Clinics, and Suboxone Clinics. The Chief of Mental Health has broad and ultimate responsibilities for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management, and supervision for the Mental Health Service. The incumbent is responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high­quality, cost-effective mental health services, as well as developing and implementing short­ and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the health care system strategic plans. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring compliance with accrediting and regulatory agencies as well as monitoring key metrics for the service. The Chief of Mental Health will serve in a key management role as the Mental Health Service Line manager/administrator. As Chief, the incumbent will: - Supervise, plan, coordinate, organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, balance responsibilities, and meet multiple deadlines. - Have the knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately as stated in medical center bylaws and VHA directives and ability to guide staff in using these tools. - Be able to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view using advanced consultation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills - Have skills in managing and directing the work of large, complex organizational unit and in applying effective management practices to accomplish program goals and objectives. - Have the ability to coordinate the efforts of multiple program elements, translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. - Establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. - Analyze organizational and operational problems, develop reporting requirements, and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. - Be skilled in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies. - Be able to assess need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues. - Develop and maintain continuing programs in the area of professional peer review, organizational improvement, continuing education, scope of practice, clinical privileging and other quality improvement activities while working collaboratively with other disciplines. - Adhere to computer security and safety requirements - Implement and monitor environment of care procedures, infection control, and health and safety procedures in compliance with VHA, federal, state, and local policies - Contact on a regular and recurring basis with individuals' representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. - Actively participate on multiple Medical Center, VISN and National VA committees (e.g., VINEE IRB, Medical Executive Committee (MEC), Professional Standards Board, VISN 1 Mental Health Executive Committee, etc.) Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06561 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen.Chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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