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.
- English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
- Education: Must 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.
- Licensure: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. This is typically satisfied at the LCSW level and varies per state requirements.
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:
GS-12 Level: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level (
VA or Non VA) 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.
In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following 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.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Hybrid Title 38 GS 12 0185 Social Worker Program Coordinator.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12.
Physical Requirements:
The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items.