Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Tuscaloosa, AL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Social Work Program Coordinator, locally titled Mental Health Assistant Program Manager, who is administratively responsible for overseeing clinical operations of the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP). The incumbent oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. The incumbent assumes the supervisory and administrative responsibility for the management of the assigned social worker supervisors who function within various units in the VA Hospital. As the social work coordinator, the incumbent assists in overseeing program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised. Incumbent will have established guidelines and performance expectations for staff, clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Incumbent supervises employees to accomplish the work of the organization unit. Exercises supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as, the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. In addition, the incumbent uses sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements. The incumbent performs program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.). Performs work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of various programs. Incumbent assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
• Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.
• Must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
• Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.
• Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
• Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
• Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Nice To Haves

• Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited.
• A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the daily operation of the program.
• Develop policies and procedures for program operation.
• Prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use.
• Responsible for the program's budget.
• Develop and monitor staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery.
• Assume supervisory and administrative responsibility for the management of assigned social worker supervisors.
• Assist in overseeing program operations and evaluations.
• Identify areas for improvement, gather relevant data, assess the data, develop and implement ideas for improvement and evaluate efficacy of improvement efforts.
• Perform administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised.
• Establish guidelines and performance expectations for staff.
• Supervise employees to accomplish the work of the organization unit.
• Exercise supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as, administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised.
• Use sound judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns; the application of guidelines; and the recommendation of program enhancements.
• Perform program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, state, etc.).
• Perform work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of various programs.
• Assure that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
• 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What This Job Offers

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