Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Dublin, GA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Foster Home (MFH) Program Coordinator is a social worker who works to maximize veterans’ psychosocial quality of life and help them remain at home or in a less restrictive care setting than a nursing home, while reducing hospital admissions. The role serves veterans who may experience serious and frequent crises, have limited family or community support, and have difficulty self-monitoring.

The coordinator oversees MFH program development and administration, including recruiting and developing foster homes, recruiting and placing veteran residents, case management, creating policies and care processes, and coordinating with Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) interdisciplinary treatment teams. The coordinator selects homes and residents, establishes intake and oversight processes, and maintains program records. The role also promotes the program to community groups and agencies and mentors other VA MFH coordinators, social workers, and interested health care providers.

The coordinator handles complex cases referred by interdisciplinary teams and social workers, provides consultation to referral sources, and develops and maintains professional practice standards. Responsibilities include documentation in paper and/or electronic medical records; psychosocial assessment and treatment planning; interpreting VA treatment and benefit programs; coordinating VA and non-VA services; and maintaining ongoing relationships with veterans, caregivers, and families. The coordinator provides supportive counseling and advocacy, monitors progress and adjusts treatment plans, and develops rapid crisis-management plans to help veterans remain in medical foster homes. The interdisciplinary team must be kept informed of concerns involving the veteran or caregiver, and applicable HBPC or medical-center protocols must be followed in cases of alleged abuse or medical or psychiatric emergencies.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is permanent and full-time. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master’s degree.
• State license or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• For the GS-12 Program Coordinator grade: one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Advanced-practice-level licensure or certification and ability to provide supervision for licensure.
• Knowledge of program coordination and administration, including consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Knowledge and ability to write program policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines.
• Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines, and evaluate assigned program areas.
• Ability to provide clinical-practice training, orientation, and guidance.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exceptions.
• Must pass required pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation; designated applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete VA onboarding and application requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of experience at the advanced-practice level, enabling supervision for licensure according to the issuing state’s requirements.
• Certification or post-master’s training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university with a defined curriculum or course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and administration of the Medical Foster Home program, including recruitment and development of foster homes and recruitment and placement of veteran residents.
• Provide case management and coordinate care with Home Based Primary Care interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Develop program policies and care processes; establish home and resident selection, intake, and oversight procedures; and maintain program records.
• Promote the foster care program to community groups and agencies.
• Mentor other VA Medical Foster Home coordinators, social workers, and interested health care providers.
• Receive and complete consults involving complex cases, provide consultation to referral sources, and develop and maintain professional practice standards.
• Document psychosocial assessments, diagnoses, treatment, progress, follow-up, and referrals in paper and/or electronic medical records.
• Interview veterans and family members or significant others and conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including assessment of risk, acuity, and service needs.
• Explain VA treatment and benefit programs and develop veteran assessments and psychosocial treatment plans collaboratively with the veteran, family, and interdisciplinary team.
• Make initial and ongoing decisions about VA and non-VA services and referrals based on available resources and the veteran’s likely acceptance of assistance.
• Maintain relationships with foster-home caregivers, veterans, and involved family members; evaluate progress and adjust treatment plans as appropriate.
• Provide ongoing supportive counseling and advocacy for veterans, caregivers, and family members.
• Make rapid assessments and develop crisis-management plans to help maintain veterans in medical foster homes.
• Follow applicable protocols in alleged abuse cases and medical or psychiatric emergencies, and keep the interdisciplinary team informed of concerns involving patients or caregivers.
• Provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice and supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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