Social Worker Program Coordinator - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

1d

About The Position

The Social Worker Program Coordinator is assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, and provides direct services to Veterans, their families, and caregivers. The health system is a multi-site, academic medical facility providing care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings.

The incumbent supervises an interdisciplinary group that includes psychologists, psychiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, social workers, and peer support specialists. The role provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision; establishes and communicates performance expectations; evaluates staff; and develops standard operating procedures for the clinical program area. The position also provides comprehensive mental health and psychosocial assessment and diagnostic services, develops and documents treatment plans for an assigned caseload, and coordinates referrals, communication, and continuity of care with VA and community resources.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible schedules are not authorized. Telework is ad hoc only, and the position is not virtual. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program and individual eligibility requirements; awards may be up to $200,000, with the amount and eligibility period determined by the VHA program office. This is a permanent, full-time federal position at the GS-13 level.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens under VA policy.
• Hold a master's degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; a doctoral degree cannot substitute for the master's degree.
• Be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level.
• Demonstrate skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty programs across a facility.
• Demonstrate skill in developing local policy, practice, procedures, or guidelines for a program in accordance with its handbook or national directive.
• Demonstrate skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program areas.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to advance program goals and patient-centered care.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including assigning work, evaluating performance, selecting and training staff, recommending awards and advancements, and recommending disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability to oversee fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer an allocated budget.
• Demonstrate knowledge of organizational structure and its effect on program operations.
• Complete the required background/security investigation, pre-employment medical evaluation, onboarding process, and other application and employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification.

Nice To Haves

• Three years of managerial experience within mental health.
• Five years of mental health experience in general.

Responsibilities

• Supervise an interdisciplinary group of employees, including psychologists, psychiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, social workers, and peer support specialists.
• Provide administrative, technical, and clinical supervision.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and clear guidelines and expectations for the clinical program area.
• Establish and communicate staff performance expectations and evaluate employee performance through the formal performance management system.
• Develop performance improvement plans, invoke disciplinary measures, and recommend personnel actions as needed.
• Provide comprehensive mental health and psychosocial assessment and diagnostic services to Veterans with a broad range of mental health issues, including complex psychopathology and psychosocial needs.
• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload, as appropriate to the setting and duties.
• Refer Veterans to VA and community resources and maintain relationships with those facilities and agencies.
• Facilitate interagency communication and care conferences as needed and provide discharge planning that maintains continuity of care.
• Oversee fiscal matters for supervised functions, including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures; forecast resource and equipment needs; and administer the allocated budget.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement, with awards of up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and program approval.
• 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.
• Potential 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.
• Potential child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance, with many programs portable into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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