Clarification from the agency

OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT VA EMPLOYEES ONLY

The incumbent is regarded as the authority for home care program activities and within the incumbent's own initiative, provides definite interpretation of regulations, standards or codes pertaining to the program. The incumbent informs management of potentially controversial issues or problems with widespread impact but resolves conflicts as they arise both regarding administrative and clinical.

Specific duties include:- Visioning, planning, staffing, directing, budgeting, evaluating and tracking the programs, and developing VA and community relationships.
- Accountable for developing, organizing, guiding, controlling, and evaluating programs and outcomes; daily attention to complex personnel management problems; participation in executive level decision making, and providing guidance and direction for the development and implementation of established standards of interdisciplinary practice.
- Assuring appropriate resources and designation for the support of the HBPC Program and safety of the staff.
- Direct supervision (or indirect oversight) and development of HBPC Supervisors.- Development and continued effective functioning of the interdisciplinary health care team; recognizing and effectively utilizing the skills, knowledge and contributions of each team member.
- Collaborating with other HBPC Program Directors, VISN leadership, and VHA Central Office staff on issues of program development and operation.
- Ensuring positive outcomes of existing programs and new projects within his/her service.
- Providing leadership in managing programs to improve delivery of care, applies system redesign principles to improve clinical processes and enhance outcomes
- Assuring fiscal responsibility for staffing, productivity, workload capture, and material resources.
- Participating with academic affiliates to train students, makes positive impacts on recruitment, retention, and staff satisfaction
- Participating in research activities and translates evidence into practice.
- Ensuring compliance with the Joint Commission, OSHA and other regulatory agencies standards
- Accountable for external and internal reviews in the specialty area and meets performance and customer service standards.
- Additional duties as outlined in VHA Directive 1411, Home-Based Primary Care Special Population Patient Aligned Care Team Program.

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.
Telework: Ad-hoc telework eligibility may be authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:08667F

This position is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
A valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position.
You will be required to drive to complete oversight visits with the staff you supervise.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 dentification 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

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.
• Language: Must be proficient in written and spoken English as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: Must have a a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.

Social Worker (Service Chief) GS-13:
Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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.
AND
Licensure/Certification. The assistant service chief must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills, must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
AND
In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:(a) Knowledge of administrative and supervisory duties which includes personnel actions, clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments, and quality improvement.(b) Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards applicable to social work practice.(c) Ability to develop, maintain, and oversee social work programs in all settings.(d) Knowledge of social work practice, policy, and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.(e) Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers, and other staff on social work qualification standards, practice, competency, productivity, and continuing education requirements.

Preferred experience: Home Care Experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required such as walking, stooping, or lifting no more than 15Ibs.

Work Environment: The work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. Use of a computer and telephone are required, and some travel by automobile within a 125-mile radius is likely. The employee is required to have a valid, unrestricted driver's license.

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.

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

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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)
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal permanent agency employees.

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