Social Worker (Chief)

Description:

The New Mexico VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for Social Worker (Chief). The incumbent has full responsibility for program management, education, human resource management and supervision, and organizational stewardship for all social worker programs.

Requirements:

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 :

• 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. Note: 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: Must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

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).

Grade Determinations : One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. The chief social work service must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, and recommendations of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions.
• Skill in applying legal, ethical, and professional standards to social work practice.
• Skill in developing, maintaining, and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections.
• Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
• Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements.
• Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements.

Preferred Experience:

• Three to five years of social work supervisory experience
• Five years working in a health care setting
• Direct experience applying and setting standards around social work practice
• Experience coordinating and developing multiple programs across a complex health system.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.