Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Duties
This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with a sign-on bonus (maximum 15% of salary per year, up to four years), cover moving expenses to the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, and offer the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) which has a value of $200,000!!
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is hiring one full-time Social Worker to be the Chief of Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine. The Social Worker performs duties including planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating an integrated mental program for both outpatients and inpatients of the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Medical Center (WBVAMC) and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
Duties and Responsibilities:
- The incumbent serves as the first or second line supervisor for MH&BMS staff, in this role the incumbent assesses program needs, allocates resources effectively and efficiently while monitoring their use, works with program managers to develop policies and procedures which are fitted to the needs of each program consistent with Department of Veterans Affairs policies and guidelines designed to promote ease of cooperation between programs, thus facilitating the provision of high-quality care to all Veterans served
- Promotes standards of clinical competence and conduct for staff which is maintained through compliance with credentialing and privileging processes, monitoring and evaluation of clinical practices, peer review, consideration of clinical performance patterns in clinical privileging and other appropriate quality improvement activities
- Serves as a member of the organized medical staff; attends its meetings; helps to ensure adherence to its bylaws, rules and regulations; works with other health care professionals to establish policies so that all health care professionals practice within the scope of their licenses; consults in developing and maintaining an adequate medical record system; participates in in-service training programs
- Mental Health services include core and specialty programs outlined in DVA handbook 1162.01 "Uniform Mental Health Services in VA Medical Centers and clinics" and other programs implemented at the discretion of the Medical Center leadership
- Programmatically and administratively responsible for the delivery of Mental Health Services at all sites of care
- The incumbent reports to the Chief of Staff (COS) of the Wilkes-Barre VAMC for all MH&BMS clinical, administrative, and quality performance matters
- The incumbent will also provide direct health care to clients within incumbent's area of expertise
- Functions in a facility-wide leadership role and is accountable and responsible to assist in the coordination of MH&BMS clinical activities, clinical staff and administrative oversight
- Demonstrates the ability to work independently yet closely in a coordinated manner with all facility committees and boards
- Demonstrates the ability to spontaneously communicate relevant aspects of service functioning to the COS and motivate staff to improve services and patient care
- Assists in coordinating program development to strengthen Mental Health clinical programs and operational issues and advises the COS about the adequacy and appropriateness of the organization's scope of services and its professional and support staff
- Completes and submits reports, including program development, implementation checklist, fidelity scale, and budget summaries
- Contributes to the strategic mission, vision, values and goals of the Wilkes-Barre VAMC and participates in local, VISN and national level committees as assigned by the Chief of Staff
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Staff of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 430pm
Compressed/Flexible: May be considered after an initial period of work to ensure employee has mastered required duties
Telework: Only available on Ad-Hoc basis. The Medical Center will be the work location of this position on a regular basis.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized (this can be a lump sum upon starting or paid annually over up to 4 years)
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized (the VA will reimburse you for your moving costs)
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You 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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
- Language: Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
- Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens)
- Education: You 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: 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.
Grade Determinations GS-14: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-13, which is directly related to the position to be filled.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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
KSAs Must be Demonstrated in Your Resume
Preferred Experience:
- Management Experience 2-5 years
- Ability to manage and lead diverse disciplined staff
- Familiarity with requirements of Office of Mental Health
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Other (1)
- Performance Appraisal
- Professional Certification
- Proof of Enrollment
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
Current Federal Employees MUST Include Enough SF-50s to Show Specialized Experience
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action:
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
Note on Veterans' Preference: Veterans' Preference does not apply to Social Workers under the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer Bulletin concerning the Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages, dated October 3, 2023, under 38 USC 7412. All qualified Veterans will be given full consideration.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/02/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12542641.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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