Social Worker (Program Coordinator)
About This Position
This position may be filled with a Psychologist OR Social Worker.
Qualifications
Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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.
Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. License or Certification* - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
Experience Requirement: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Serving as the sole practitioner in a specialty program and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area; oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics; may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery; provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
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 including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and 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.
Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. Physical Requirements: Physical qualifications require the ability to stand, walk, bend, and move freely. Must be able to utilize good body mechanics in lifting or restraining patients.
Must have good hearing, eyesight, and physical dexterity. Must be clean and neat in appearance. Must be emotionally stable and cooperative. Work is accomplished predominantly on the nursing unit and through escorting to various clinics or hospital areas.
The physical surroundings involve working with the acute and chronically physically and mentally ill patients, which may cause discomfort related to negative verbal and physical activities from these patients. Position also may require minimal travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who provide assistance and support to the facility and its Veterans.
This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to infection and contagious diseases. Infection Control Standard Precautions are required as safety precautions; such as hand hygiene, gloves, gowns or masks, which may be required for personal protective equipment and to promote a safe environment.
Major Duties
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Administrative Responsibilities (80%) Program Coordinator The Program Coordinator (PC) oversees and ensures program compliance with VHA, JCAHO and other regulatory and accrediting standards, particularly ensuring that safety standards for IMH units are met and exceeded. The PC develops and monitors treatment program content to ensure that it is evidence-based and comprehensive enough to meet the biopsychological needs of all Veterans served by the program, regardless of age, gender, or warzone, then develops short- and long-range goals and plans for the programs and implements policies and procedures to ensure goal attainment. S/he will oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within assigned program units using data-driven quality assurance processes.
The PC will be responsible for managing the admission and discharge processes to ensure optimal patient flow and coordinated transitions between levels of care. The PC is responsible for resource and financial management, budget formulation and monitoring, assessing staffing levels and needs, space planning, and assessing equipment and technology needs to provide optimal service delivery to Veterans. Supervisory Responsibilities The PC provides direct or indirect (through subordinate supervision) administrative and professional supervision of subordinates.
The IMH has a multidisciplinary staff of approximately 19 FTEE (made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, physician assistants, social workers, recreational therapists, and peer support specialist) that report directly to the PC as well as matrixed responsibility for nursing staff (RNs, LPNs, and NAs) and fractional FTEEs of chaplain, pharmacist, and dietician that work in IMH units. The incumbent should demonstrate skill in interpersonal relationships to facilitate cohesion and communication among the interdisciplinary team members, and mediate conflicts as they arise. The PC will be responsible for assessing qualification and abilities of current and prospective employees.
The PC should demonstrate the ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations and demonstrate skill in working collaboratively with other disciplines and supervisors. The PC has line and staff authority for resource allocation within the area of responsibility. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health and Chief of Staff.
The incumbent is professionally competent and capable of planning and directing Inpatient Mental Health; therefore, supervision of the incumbent is normally limited to administrative matters with minimal technical supervision required. The incumbent's clinical practice and privileges are supervised by the Chief, Social Work Service. The incumbent is directed by local and national VA policy and may obtain consultation on professional matters from staff at the VA, VISN, and the Medical Center who will provide training, education, mentoring, and technical assistance.
Clinical Responsibilities (20%) The PC should demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to appropriately utilize evidence-based practices and clinical-based guidelines, and the ability to guide staff in using these tools. The PC will provider a full range of mental health services, including the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. He or she will perform consultations and evaluation in Veterans referred to IMH.
The PC will provide a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy, couples/family therapy, and group therapy. Preceptor Responsibilities The PC will oversee or be involved in the training of social work trainees, as well as trainees from other health professions, as appropriate. Other Responsibilities Organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines Establish and monitor production and performance of priorities and standards Deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view Analyze organizational and operational problems and develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Nights and/or Weekends may be required in emergent situations)
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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
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.
Education
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 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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.
Additional Information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/10/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922913. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: License Resume Transcript 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 DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License OF-306 Greater than 2 page resume Other (2) Other (3) Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference does not apply