Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

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.

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).

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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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

Preferred Experience

Case Management of residents in Community Nursing Home settings

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Assuring the placement of Veterans into the CNH program meets VA administrative and clinical eligibility requirements
• Work directly with VAMC Registered Nurse and Social Worker assigned to monitor the clinical care provided to place Veterans
• Develop and implement information systems to track a current list of active participants in the program to enable tracking of service activities - utilization of services and other functions
• Evaluate program progress and outcomes and utilize data to continuously modify and improve the program and processes
• Assure that the annual VA CNH and program reviews are completed as set forth in VA policy and must have a good knowledge of Centers for Medicare/Medicaid standards concerning CNH programs
• Serve as the Contracting Officer Representative(COR) for the CNH program
• Assure that quality assurance related to these programs is within program parameters
• Assure the reporting and investigating of sentinel/adverse events by program staff as necessary
• Respond to Congressional Inquiries and complete issue briefs related to provision of care within the CNH program
• Assist the VISN5 Contracting Specialist by meeting the requirements of the COR role in the recruitment and oversite of contracts
• Assure that the contracts and agreements adhere to all current VHA Directives - State Licensure Standards and VA-OIG expectations
• Conducts intensive review and appraisals of the programs to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies
• Provide informal and formal education to the VA staff and contracted agencies on any changes in VA policy concerning their specific programs
• Recruitment of nursing homes when needed and funding is available - requiring knowledge and understanding of federal and state standards related to nursing home and non-institutional care programs
• Daily receipt of Community Nursing Home (CNH) consults within prescribed policy time frames
• Daily processing of CNH consults as delegated authority to facilitate authorization of care
• Investigating all NCH complaints and visiting CNH facilities as needed to follow up on identified concerns
• Completing required monthly tasks to ensue appropriate billing requirements
• Coincording contracts with other VA systems to authorize placement of Veterans under contract as needed
• Work Schedule: Full-time - 8:00am-4:30pm - Monday-Friday

Total Rewards

Competitive salary and regular salary increases

When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authroized