Social Worker - Caregiver Support Program Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration • Alamosa, CO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker - Caregiver Support Program Coordinator supports the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and provides clinical, evidence-based services and interventions for Veterans, families, and Caregivers. The role develops and implements the Caregiver Support Program for the assigned area, ensuring compliance and collaboration with the local facility and VA Central Office. Travel is required for approximately half of the work tour, and the employee must maintain a current, valid state driver's license. The health care system has outpatient clinics throughout Colorado, including Alamosa, Aurora, Denver, Golden, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, La Junta, and Lamar, as well as Primary Care Telehealth Outreach Clinics in Burlington and Salida.

The coordinator assesses Caregiver stress and burden, provides directed clinical interventions, referrals, education, consultation, and ongoing support, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and community partners. The position also develops program guidelines, tracking and evaluation systems, training, support groups, and educational programs. The work schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with compressed or flexible scheduling available. Ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position. The position is permanent, and permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• For the GS-12 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Social worker program coordinators must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Knowledge of program coordination and administration, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Knowledge of and ability to write program policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
• Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program areas.
• Ability to provide clinical training, orientation, and guidance.
• Current, valid state driver's license; travel is required.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exceptions for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and meet background and security investigation requirements.
• Must meet application and onboarding requirements, including applicable identification requirements and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Previous Caregiver Support Program experience.
• Certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum or course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Caregiver Support Program for the assigned area and ensure compliance and collaboration with the local facility and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program.
• Complete initial, interim, and annual in-home visits for patients enrolled in the Caregiver Support Program.
• Administer information and analytical systems to evaluate and improve services provided to Caregivers, families, and Veterans.
• Develop and implement information systems to track service activities, including visits, referrals, Caregiver demographics, equipment utilization, and Caregiver and Veteran satisfaction.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services.
• Conduct direct Caregiver and Veteran contacts to identify and assess Caregiver stress and burden and develop and apply clinical interventions.
• Advise and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on Caregiver issues.
• Create educational tools, develop programs, and implement training focused on specific Caregiver needs and issues.
• Provide education and in-service training to VA medical center employees, Veterans, families, and Caregivers.
• Provide ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding Caregiver support.
• Develop and facilitate face-to-face or VANTS telephone support groups and educational programs for Caregivers.
• Distribute educational materials from VA and local, state, and national Caregiver organizations.
• Refer Caregivers and Veterans to VA medical and mental health treatment and other VA services.
• Advise Caregivers, Veterans, and families on navigating government and community agency processes.
• Collaborate with patient-aligned care teams, mental health clinicians, and specialty care providers to provide Veteran and staff education on Caregiver issues.
• Provide hands-on support group assistance and train patient-aligned care team clinical social work staff in developing and facilitating support groups.
• Coordinate National Family Caregivers Month events and programs, including advertising activities, mobilizing participants, educational sessions, recognition events, and support programs.
• Travel to locations as required for approximately half of the work tour.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income, child eligibility, and a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Compressed or flexible scheduling is available.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior