Summary

The Chief - Social Work Service - is responsible for the strategic planning and operation of the Service. The incumbent defines the mission and vision of the Service - develops the scope of practice for all Social Workers - and serves as an advisor to subordinates - peers and administration.. The Chief has full responsibility for the clinical practice - program management - education - human resource management - supervision and organizational stewardship for the Service.

Qualifications

Social Worker (Service Chief) - GS-13 Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The chief social work service must evidence possession of supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. 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. Licensure/Certification . Individual must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities. In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in administrative and supervisory duties which includes personnel actions - clinical supervision - consultation - negotiation with other departments - and quality improvement. Skill in applying legal - ethical - and professional standards applicable to social work practice. Skill in developing - maintaining - and managing social work services in all settings. 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. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. The chief social work at this level typically has responsibility for management of small to moderately complex social work service within the organization. The chief social work service is the highest level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility social workers and provision of social work services. The chief social work provides supervision to social work service staff members of different grades. Supervision may include multiple disciplines - treatment sites that are limited and in close proximity to the medical center - and programs are with limited administrative oversite responsibility. The chief social work has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice - program management - education - human resource management and supervision of the service. References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting - bending - stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office - hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible - carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities - operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required. The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020. It will be necessary for the social worker to travel throughout the Wilkes-Barre VAMC catchment area where they conduct interviews with Veterans - family members - representatives of community health - welfare and law enforcement agencies.

Duties

• Responsible for the strategic planning and operation of Social Work Service
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the administrative and clinical supervision of Social Work staff in their professional role
• This responsibility includes development of performance standards - strategic planning - writing functional statements - evaluating work performance - working with and counseling employees whose work performance is marginal or unsatisfactory and initiating disciplinary actions when necessary
• Incumbent ensures the provision of social work services and/or case management services in a variety of inpatient and outpatient program areas and clinics
• Incumbent ensures adherence to related VHA Directives - develops policies and procedures - and monitors standards of clinical practice/standards of care for Social Work - including development of care guidelines - manuals and guides to professional practice
• Develops consistent standard operating procedures required to accomplish clinical care interventions and ensures that they are followed
• Incumbent is responsible for developing patient education materials for Social Work
• Reports non-compliance with standards to Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) and Quality Management to determine if policy waiver is required
• Develops plans to meet performance requirements for associated programs
• Incumbent is responsible for assigning staff and establishing appropriate methods for review and control of activities to assure a proper focus and balance of maintaining services
• Makes decisions regarding work problems presented by subordinate supervisors
• Incumbent will collaborate with others in negotiating - deciding upon and/or coordinating Social Work related changes affecting other programs
• Participates in making selections for all Social Workers - supervisory and non-supervisory positions for all services to include non-nursing services
• Incumbent hears group grievances and serious employee complaints - review serious disciplinary cases (i.e. - those proposing suspensions and removals) - and disciplinary problems involving key employees
• Incumbent will consult regarding training needs and decide types of training problems related to the identified problems
• Provides information related to program elements being initiated - dropped - curtailed or emphasized regarding how many resources should be deployed
• the time of curtailing - initiating - and changing program elements
• basic program planning and evaluation activities
• evaluation of program goals and objectives: decisions on organizational structure and delegated responsibility
• measures for improving coordination among subordinate units - and control measures to provide data for management
• decisions which have an impact on relationships with other programs and units and which may have the potential for negative media coverage
• and decisions regarding ways to substantially reduce operating costs without impairing overall operations - such as - reduction of average length of stay on inpatient programs
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Education Debt Repayment Program (EDRP): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult - age18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.