Social Worker - National Program Manager, Community Nursing Home

Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The National Program Manager, Community Nursing Home (CNH) is responsible for national coordination of CNH programs and services to improve quality and oversight of VA's CNH Program.

Duties will include:

• Providing leadership in the development, enhancement, and improvement of national standards, policies, and guidelines to improve the effectiveness, quality, and oversight of community nursing homes.
• Supporting national and VISN level activities and field facilities by providing clinical program and policy guidance and assistance with the development of interdisciplinary approaches to the accomplishment of strategic plans and initiatives related to the CNH Program.
• Performing as a consultant and National Program Manager for Community Nursing Home Program Quality and Oversight in Geriatrics and Extended Care (12GEC), under the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services (12).
• Functioning in a collaborative team effort with the professional clinical program officials within the Purchased Long Term Services and Supports (PLTSS) team, Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC), as well as other Program Offices within VA Central Office, in developing a comprehensive strategy regarding the quality and oversight of CNH programs/services.
• Assessing the impact of proposed policies and plans on operating programs.
• Developing objectives, proposing policy changes regarding GEC and CNH in the context of other PLTSS programs, and providing advice on the implications and impact on the VHA and VA systems.
• Providing support for management and program analyses that will include healthcare utilization parameters such as hospital readmission rates, Medicare Nursing Home Compare quality measures, review of ongoing aspects of quality indicators, and analyses of trends in the VHA.
• Developing and implementing analytical studies, developing, standardizing, and reporting training and educational events, and contributing to VA staff training, recruitment, retention, and professional growth.
• Initiating, developing, and directing nationwide policies and procedures while collaborating and providing guidance and direction to all VHA facilities for the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of VHA's CNH quality and oversight program.
• Working across VA with individuals from all levels of the organization: providing guidance and recommendations to VA Senior Leaders on matters involving Congress, the Executive Branch, and VHA/VISN/VA Medical Center Leadership on performance standards, targets, and national policy.
• Working with VISN Rehabilitation and Extended Care Integrated Clinical Community Leads and VA Medical Center CNH Program Managers in the field by: collaborating to develop methodologies and data collection strategies for ongoing programs, performance targets, analyzing the development of options and areas for improvement, and preparing report findings for dissemination across the organization.
• Providing management advice and recommendations to the National Director, Home & Community Based and Purchased Care and the Executive Director, Geriatrics and Extended Care, on all aspects of VHA's CNH quality and oversight programs
• Analyzing, developing, and tracking multifunctional programs, program functions, and region-wide programming reports.
• Initiating and designing in-depth technical analyses of quality of care workload capture and assisting in the formulation and monitoring of the program quality of care budget.
• Developing and implementing educational programs/materials on Community Nursing Home Quality and Oversight Programs.
• Representing GEC in working with CNH Program stakeholders, developing and presenting accurate information to VA senior leadership, national Veterans organizations/groups, VHA administrators and directors, General Accounting Office (GAO), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other interested groups.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to the in-person work mandate in their current position.
Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space.
Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer.
Functional Statement #: PD246430
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

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.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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. 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: The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in community nursing home program.
• 3+ years of experience with quality and oversight, including patient safety, activities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Medicare Nursing Home Star Ratings, including methodology.

Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-14
(1) Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Individual 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.

(2) Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
(a) Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
(b) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
(c) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
(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 which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; 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) Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
(h) Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.

Reference: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the VA Qualifications Standards at https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/

Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please 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
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps