Social Worker (Program Coordinator)-Caregiver Support Comprehensive Program

Veterans Health Administration • Prescott, AZ

20h

About The Position

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Coordinator for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance to Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is a Social Work Program Coordinator. The role provides clinical, evidence-based services and interventions; program development; education for caregivers, Veterans, and staff; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality-improvement activities; and program evaluation and consultation related to PCAFC.

The Coordinator develops and implements PCAFC activities for the assigned area, working with the facility CSP supervisor and collaborating with local facility and VA Central Office initiatives. The role evaluates and enhances service quality, develops systems to track program activities and satisfaction, and creates clinical guidelines and protocols. It also provides direct clinical support to caregivers and Veterans, coordinates with medical-center teams, and develops caregiver education, training, support groups, and informational resources.

The position coordinates comprehensive assessments and referrals to VA treatment and benefits, other VA programs, and community-based services. The Coordinator serves as a resource on navigating government and community agencies, maintains knowledge of caregiver-related legislation and current treatment approaches, and acts as a liaison with community and state agencies. The position works Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; telework is ad hoc, and the position is not virtual. Some community assessments and follow-up visits, as well as other work-related travel, may be required, occasionally including overnight stays.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA non-citizen appointment exception.
• 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.
• State licensure or certification to independently practice social work at the master’s degree level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively greater professional competency.
• Advanced-practice-level licensure or certification for assignment as a social worker program coordinator, with the 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.
• Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program areas.
• Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; complete the required online onboarding and application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program, unless an applicable exemption is granted.
• Maintain current Basic Life Support certification and be able to engage in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior, or have a valid exemption.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as required.
• Comply with Selective Service registration requirements if applicable.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of specialized social work practice, such as caregiver support, medical foster care, or case management.
• Experience in clinical program coordination, including developing and implementing guidelines, tracking systems, and quality-improvement measures.
• Certification or other 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

• Develop and implement the PCAFC for the assigned area and ensure compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office initiatives in coordination with the facility CSP supervisor.
• Administer information and analytical systems to evaluate and improve the quality of services provided to caregivers, families, and Veterans.
• Develop and implement 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 service utilization.
• Communicate directly with caregivers and Veterans to identify and assess caregiver stress and burden and develop and apply targeted 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 caregiver needs and issues.
• Provide education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families, and caregivers, and provide ongoing consultation and support to colleagues.
• Develop and facilitate caregiver support groups, in person or by VANTS telephone line, and educational programs.
• Distribute educational materials from VA and local, state, and national caregiver organizations.
• Conduct clinical interventions with caregivers and families to identify caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs as treatment issues.
• Coordinate with medical-center disciplines to maintain the Veteran Assessment Clinic and provide comprehensive assessments for Veterans and caregivers in PCAFC or seeking program assistance.
• Refer Veterans and caregivers to VA medical and mental health treatment, VA services and benefits, community-based social services, and other non-VA entitlement programs.
• When appropriate, provide referrals or consultations, or arrange direct admission to other VA programs, including Community Residential Care, Respite, Community Health Care Coordination, Hospice, Home Based Primary Care, Telehealth, and Community Nursing Home programs.
• Consult on navigating government and community agency processes encountered by caregivers, Veterans, and families.
• Stay current on federal and state legislation directed at supporting caregivers and on relevant theory and treatment modalities through professional journals, conferences, seminars, teleconferences, and other materials.
• Collaborate with PACT, mental health, and geriatric primary care clinicians to provide education to Veterans and staff on caregiver issues.
• Support caregiver groups and train PACT clinical social work staff in developing and facilitating groups.
• Develop a library of caregiver support information for inpatient, outpatient, and specialty clinic settings, with materials tailored to the populations served.
• Serve as a liaison between VA and community agencies; participate in local and state caregiver-support activities and committees; and invite state and community caregiver agencies to the local VA Caregiver Support Advisory Board.
• Establish and maintain access to electronic social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, secure email, and YouTube, in accordance with VA policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Travel within the service catchment area and, as needed, to other sites for patient care, training, conferences, meetings, or other work purposes; community assessments and follow-up visits may occasionally involve overnight stays.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on the type of position.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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