Social Worker Program Coordinator - Substance Use Disorder

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 22 - 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 24 - 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• United States Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• 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
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• Licensure Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - GS-13 Experience and Education One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship - or equivalent supervised professional experience
• Assignments
• Program coordinators at the GS-13 grade level oversee the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty treatment program - such as - but not limited to: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Substance Abuse Treatment Program - Home-Based Primary Care - Mental Health Intensive Case Management - Caregiver Support Program or Transition and Care Management Program - or a combination of programs located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility
• They are responsible for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing - work assignments - budget - treatment services provided - and admission criteria for the program
• The program coordinator may or may not have supervisory responsibilities
• They have full responsibility for all phases of service delivery for a major specialty program
• The program coordinator is responsible for the program's resource and fiscal management - monitoring control points developing the annual budget - operating within that budget - and accounting for appropriated funds
• They are administratively responsible for the programming and operations of the program assigned - develop policies and procedures for program operation - and prepare reports and statistics for facility - VISN - and national use
• Program coordinators provide leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs for assigned staff
• They initiate and conduct program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports - including productivity
• Program coordinators oversee 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
• Licensure/Certification Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s) - across the facility
• (b) Skill in local policy and practice development - procedures - and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive
• (c) Skill in organizing work - setting priorities - meeting multiple deadlines - and evaluating assigned program area(s)
• (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care
• (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed
• performance evaluations
• and selection of staff - training - and recommendation of awards - advancements - and when appropriate - disciplinary action
• (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls - contracts - and equipment expenditures) - forecast resource and equipment needs - and administer the allocated budget
• (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders - harm reduction philosophy and principles of recovery - and experience in managing a multidisciplinary team are preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health - able to sit at a desk working at a computer - engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting - walking - bending - and carrying supplies
• SW must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the SW or others
• Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center - standing for extended periods of time - and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - and/or fingers.

Duties

• Assumes - under the direct supervision of the SUD Program Coordinator - the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS
• Supervises - executes - & monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program
• Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans - many of whom have complex needs that include serious and persistent mental health - medical - & psychosocial problems
• Responsible for multiple performance areas within the Outpatient SUD Program
• These include but are not limited to national & local statutes - Joint Commission accreditation standards - CARF accreditation standards - & VHA program requirements
• Leads a multidisciplinary team - to include psychologists - social workers - nurses - & other health care professionals
• Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings
• Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies and procedures - with the approval of the SUD Program Coordinator
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s)
• Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition - care management - effective delivery of clinical interventions - & the adherence to administrative demands
• Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards
• Plans work to be accomplished by team members - including establishing priorities - timelines for completion - & necessary adjustments therein
• Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team - in accordance with local & national policies
• Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures
• Provides clinical supervision - to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies - documentation of CPRS procedures - & the clinical management of difficult - complex - & dangerous patients
• Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program - to include constructing job announcement(s) - preparing functional statements - &/or selecting final job candidates
• Resolves conflicts among assigned staff & adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner
• Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section
• Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner
• Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave
• Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services
• Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs
• May be asked to attend & participate in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief - Mental Health Chief - Chief of Staff - &/or Facility Director
• Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings
• Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes
• Allocate resources within the Mental Health Service at Western Colorado - based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line
• Oversee survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program - in collaboration with the SUD Program Coordinator - Mental Health Leadership - & the QM Manager
• Oversee and collaborate with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility and Mental Health performance metrics
• Comprehend - interpret - & use the data array decided on by the SUD Program Coordinator & Mental Health Leadership
• Complete suspense actions related to the management area
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available
• Telework: May be available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55447-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.