Program Specialist

Program Specialist

The position serves as a Program Specialist assigned to the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program under the Chief, Social Work at the VA medical facility as a primary person responsible for the facility SAMS Program. SAMS's focus is to provide personalized, supportive services to families, caregivers and survivors at the end of a Veteran's life and ensure Veterans without identified family receive dignified burials to honor their service. The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity at the GS-0301-07 level. Key functions will be like those described at the full performance level of the target position. Advancement to the Program Specialist, GS-0301-09 position description number will be recommended only after it has been determined that the incumbent meets all regulatory and statutory requirements, is satisfactorily progressing in the training, is successfully performing the currently assigned range of duties and responsibilities as outlined in this SOD.

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Ensures compliance with local policy and procedures pertaining to patients who expire while receiving Department of Veterans Affairs - authorized care in a medical center, hospital, nursing home or domiciliary care setting.
• Ensures Veterans and their next of kin (NOK) receive respectful, compassionate and dignified care and services in accordance with Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA), state and local law and regulations.
• Care and services reflect sensitivity to religious, cultural and special considerations of the Veteran and the NOK served.
• Supports health care management officials by advising and coordinating health care delivery systems and operations.
• Renders advice on operational policies and assures these policies conform with and are in support of administrative functions in coordination with the supervisor.
• Works closely with the Veterans Integrated Service Network point of contact, National SAMS Program, senior management officials and others to implement and evaluate policies, plans and internal operational systems.
• Advises Veterans and their NOK of burial benefits. Help NOK prearrange burial, interment, cremation, as desired by Veteran.
• Reviews eligibility and entitlement of burial and death allowances and advises on the process for applying for those benefits.
• Inform Veteran, caregiver and NOK of available supportive services within the medical facility.
• Reviews daily death notifications. Submits completed death certificates to designated Funeral Director and County Registrar's Office.
• Ensure Veterans with no relatives (unclaimed remains) are provided with a dignified funeral and burial at VA expense.
• Notifies clinical staff involved with care prior to death to contact the survivor within 24 hours of the pronouncement of death.
• Identifies, in collaboration with designated facility staff, a responsible funeral home for the unclaimed remains and prepares a purchase order and/or contract to this effect.
• Completes required VA authorizations to release personal effects and any remaining funds in the patient's account to NOK or designated party.
• Assists VA provider in contacting NOK so provider can request permission to do an autopsy. Records and transcribes consent as allowed.
• Coordinates with VA provider and NOK/legal designee in obtaining signed consent of Release of Remains.
• In collaboration with clinical staff coordinates release of remains with appropriate services/outside agencies in the event of autopsy, or organ/tissue/body donation. Follows local procedures for whole body donation.
• Collaborate with Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Pharmacy and Prosthetics to administratively cancel all appointments to include orders.
• Coordinates with Pathology Services to complete all forms and paperwork required to release the deceased remains to selected funeral home.
• Prepares and provides military information forms to the funeral home representative.
• Requests death certificates from the County Registrar's Office for all external notifications of a Veteran's death and updates records as appropriate within VA system.
• Coordinates the dispositions of personal funds and effects with the Office of General Council for Veterans that have been adjudicated as incompetent. This may require the position to appear in person at county court houses.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 0730-1600

Compressed/Flexible: will be discussed during interview

Telework: not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/ PD035130

US Department of Veterans Affairs