Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Specialist serves as the primary person responsible for the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program at a VA medical facility, under the Chief, Social Work or Social Work Executive. The role advises Veterans and their next of kin (NOK) about burial and death benefits, supports burial prearrangements, and connects Veterans, caregivers, and survivors with end-of-life and bereavement resources. The specialist coordinates death notifications, funeral and burial arrangements, the release of remains, personal effects, and funds, and related documentation with families, VA staff, funeral homes, registrars, and outside agencies.

The position also supports facility initiatives such as No Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA), educates staff and community partners about SAMS, and coordinates volunteers with the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement. In collaboration with palliative care and facility staff, the specialist helps improve end-of-life care and quality processes, tracks service activity and outcomes, analyzes adverse quality trends, and facilitates quality-management plans. Other related duties may be assigned.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad hoc telework may be authorized; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives, a critical skills incentive, and permanent change of station are not authorized. Promotion to the full-performance level may be possible without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Applicants must meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement when applicable: 52 weeks at GS-05 for GS-07, or 52 weeks at GS-07 for GS-09.
• For GS-07, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including relevant experience with next-of-kin and burial benefits; end-of-life resources; death notifications and certificates; funeral-home purchase orders or contracts; autopsy permissions and release of remains; databases; disposition of patient funds; and variance reports. Alternatively, qualifying education or a combination of education and experience may be used.
• For GS-07 education qualification, applicants may have one full year of graduate-level education or a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement in a directly related field. A qualifying combination of specialized experience and graduate education may also be used.
• For GS-09, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including the relevant duties listed for GS-07 plus participation in NVDA initiatives, SAMS education and training, and coordination of volunteers. Alternatively, qualifying education or a combination of education and experience may be used.
• For GS-09 education qualification, applicants may have a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D. A qualifying combination of specialized experience and graduate education may also be used.
• Submit transcripts if education is used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Selected applicants must complete a background or security investigation and online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period is required, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential to job performance that cannot otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment; a pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Responsibilities

• Advise Veterans and their next of kin about burial benefits and assist with burial, interment, or cremation prearrangements.
• Advise survivors about VA benefits, review eligibility and entitlement for burial and death allowances, and explain the application process; refer specific benefit inquiries to a VBA point of contact.
• Inform Veterans, caregivers, and next of kin about facility support services, including Chaplaincy and Social Work, for end-of-life and bereavement support.
• Review daily death notifications and submit completed death certificates to the designated funeral director and County Registrar's Office.
• Arrange dignified funerals and burials at VA contract or purchase-order expense for Veterans with unclaimed remains; collaborate with VA offices to locate next of kin.
• When required, view an unclaimed deceased Veteran's body or remains to confirm that VA burial funds are used as intended.
• Request that clinical staff involved in a Veteran's care contact survivors within 24 hours after the death is pronounced.
• Identify a responsible funeral home for unclaimed remains and prepare the related purchase order or contract with designated facility staff.
• Complete VA authorizations to release personal effects and remaining patient-account funds to next of kin or another designated party.
• Record and transcribe provider requests for autopsy permission from the legal next of kin or other legally authorized designee; coordinate signed consent with the VA physician and designee when needed.
• Coordinate release of remains with appropriate services and outside agencies in cases involving autopsy or organ, tissue, or body donation; establish or follow local whole-body donation procedures.
• Work with the Patient Aligned Care Team, Pharmacy, and Prosthetics to cancel appointments and orders.
• Coordinate with Pathology Services to complete paperwork required to release remains to the selected funeral home.
• Prepare and provide military information forms to funeral home representatives.
• Request death certificates from the County Registrar's Office for external notifications and update VA records as appropriate.
• Coordinate disposition of personal funds and effects with the Office of General Counsel for Veterans adjudicated as incompetent; this may involve appearing in county courthouses.
• Participate in facility No Veteran Dies Alone initiatives and partner with staff and leadership to identify facility needs and opportunities.
• Provide SAMS education, training, and resources to hospital and community living center staff and community members supporting Veterans and their families at end of life.
• Collaborate with the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement to recruit, train, schedule, and oversee facility and community living center volunteers.
• Collaborate with palliative care to promote quality end-of-life care and develop action plans and process improvements based on Bereaved Family Survey reporting.
• Implement information systems to track service activities, including visits, referrals, demographics, and outcomes.
• Investigate and analyze adverse quality trends or conditions and initiate corrective action.
• Consult with staff and managers to identify quality-improvement opportunities and facilitate development and implementation of quality-management plans.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed