Social Worker Program Manager (Deputy Chief) Huntsville

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to internal, permanent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employees.

The Social Worker Program Manager/Deputy Chief of Mental Health has programmatic responsibilities for the delivery of mental health services at the Huntsville Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and additional outpatient sites of care and for supporting and executing the mission and vision of the Chief (ACOS) of Mental Health for the Birmingham VA Health Care System (VAHCS). The incumbent assists the ACOS/MH with management of the MHSL including assessing program needs, allocating resources effectively and efficiently while monitoring their use, working with program managers to develop policies and procedures which are fitted to the needs of each program, and facilitating communication between MHSL programs.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides support to the ACOS, MHSL in all areas of management, leadership, and oversight of mental health clinical, educational, and research activities at the Birmingham VAHCS.
• Ensures observance of federal, national, and local regulatory policy and accreditation requirements governing the medical center.
• Responsible for supporting strategic planning, budget oversight, staff recruitment and management, and quality assurance.
• May function as a liaison to the ACOS, MHSL for Education and affiliated health professional schools for undergraduate and graduate education issues.
• Ensures that mental health practitioners demonstrate effectiveness in teaching and comply with necessary trainee supervision requirements.
• May function as a liaison to the ACOS, MHSL for Research, to facilitate research grants and expand research opportunities and initiatives.
• Maintains all necessary credentials in his/her respective discipline to provide clinical care approximately ten percent (10%) of the time.
• Responsible for assisting the ACOS in planning, organizing, developing, implementing, coordinating, and refining a comprehensive patient management/clinical support/administrative program which provides services and technical counsel necessary to meet clinical, procedural, legal and administrative requirements relating to the care and treatment of inpatients and outpatients.
• Provides a climate in which clinicians can care for patients with an awareness of administrative implications of his/her actions, without feeling he/she is working under unnecessary constraints.
• Contributes to implementing VA Headquarters policies and regulations governing broad administrative aspects of the medical center. To affect the policies, incumbent must have skills in management theory, cost*benefit analysis, data gathering and statistical analysis.
• Serves on a variety of medical center planning committees, advisory groups and chartered action teams.
• Oversee clinical and administrative performance measures.
• Assists with service line strategic planning and resource management.
• Assist with developing formal, systematic improvement plans for quality measures, access and medical services delivery.
• Supports liaison with affiliated schools regarding medical teaching issues and provider appointments.
• Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements using programs using data driven quality assurance processes.
• Assures all Mental Health programs are compliant with applicable Federal and State laws.
• Oversee the management of Veteran complaints and issues.
• Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives to meet VHA Mental Health requirements.
• Participates in performance appraisals of staff and addresses disciplinary issues.
• Participates in clinical teaching as assigned.
• Assists in overseeing appropriate training related to MH issues is completed for all Birmingham VAHCS staff involved in patient care activities.
• Contributes to the development of Mental Health Service policies and procedures consistent with VA Directives, as well as VA required accreditation by the Joint Commission, CARF and other MH accrediting organizations.
• Supervises the hiring of professional mental health staff.
• Directly supervises both clinical and administrative personnel.
• Actively participates, as needed, in the provision of clinical care services within the incumbent s credentials, privileges, and/or scope of practice.
• Maintains a clinical caseload including individual medication management patients within the MHSL. Clinical duties may also include consult management.
• Provides intervention and counseling to individual patients as needed in the course of resolving administrative matters within the program(s).

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (subject to change based on agency needs)
Telework: Available, Ad-hoc only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61727F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 examination.
• 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

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. 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/.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met.
Social Worker (Program Manager), 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. (a) Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
   • Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
   • Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
   • Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
   • Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
   • 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.

Preferred Experience:

1. Previous experience as a Mental Health Section Chief or Program Manager at a VHA Facility.
2. Management experience of a mental health program in an integrated health care system.
3. Experience with quality improvement, including but not limited to lean management, change management, and high reliability organization implementation.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve primarily walking, sitting, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although the incumbent is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities. There is ongoing exposure to individuals having psychiatric and physical illness and disabilities. These include violent or aggressive behavior and chronic psychiatric and medical problems. Light lifting, under 15 pounds, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Hearing (aid permitted).

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:

• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

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
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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