Supervisory Social Worker

Summary

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.

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
• 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
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 accreditation standards for a masters of 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
• Current state requirements may be found by going to
• Grade Determinations GS-12 Supervisory Social Worker: Education and Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment
• Candidate 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 Supervisory Social Workers 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: Ability to independently organize work - set priorities - and meet multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments and quality improvement
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services
• Ability to provide staff training and development
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees - team leaders - and managers
• 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-12 grade level - supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate sized professional and non-professional staff - including support staff and professional staff at the GS-12 grade level and below
• The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service - in a care/product line - or multiple facilities
• They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities
• 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)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking - sitting - talking - driving - use of the telephone - etc
• Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities
• There is ongoing exposure to individuals having psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities
• These include violent or aggressive behavior and chronic psychiatric and medical problems
• Light lifting - under 15 pounds - Light carrying - Under 15 pounds - hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include but not limited to: Sets priorities and makes assignments according to the capabilities of the employees
• Sets performance standards and reviews work to determine acceptable levels of quality and quantity
• Reports workload data to the Chief and/or Assistant Chief - SWS and Chief of Staff as directed
• Observes workers' performance and offers instruction - technical advice or counseling related to clinical and administrative matters
• Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance
• Develop work improvement plans - recommending personnel actions as necessary
• Responsible for Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) for all assigned supervisees
• Works to resolve informal complaints and will refer grievances and unresolved complaints using the proper procedure
• Effectively handles minor disciplinary measures such as warnings or reprimands or recommend actions in more serious cases
• Review and approve leave requests for assigned employees
• Ensures assigned employees complete all required annual facility trainings and continuing education requirements for state licensure
• Attends and participates in regular SWS supervisor meetings
• Assists the Chief - SWS and/or Assistant Chief - SWS in managing various aspects of work within the SWS and the overall direction of the service in keeping with the goals and priorities prescribed by the Medical Center
• Participate in staff recruitment - screening of applicants - and will assist the Chief and/or Assistant Chief with staff assignments
• Serves the Medical Center at large in a variety of capacities - such as committee assignments - investigations - personnel matters - and special projects
• Participates in EEO and safety matters
• Must be able to work effectively with a wide range of professional and non professional staff at the Medical Center and in the community
• Conduct psychosocial assessments utilizing information obtained from the Veteran and family members to assess the Veteran's psychosocial functioning and needs and formulate and implement a plan of action identifying the Veteran's problems - strengths - weaknesses - resources - coping skills - and required assistance
• Work with patients and families experiencing basic emotional - medical and social problems utilizing individual - group and family education and counseling skills
• Ability to manage patients with complex problems
• Knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities utilizing supportive - problem- solving and crisis intervention skills
• Able to make facility referrals based upon Veteran's need and eligibility
• Develop active discharge plans within an interdisciplinary team setting where the Social Worker can recommend preferred course of agency action
• Progressive - proactive discharge planning begins upon the first day of hospitalization
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chief - SWS and/or Assistant Chief - SWS
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
• Work Schedule may be subject to change based on agency needs
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact View email address on careers.biausa.org - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:62069FPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.