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Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz\_ua\_UU Social Work Program Manager The Social Work Program Manager, organizationally identified as the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) Service Line, at the Tuscaloosa (AL) VA Medical Center (VAMC), is responsible for the overall leadership of the service line and ensures the quality of medical and mental health services provided, the education and training of professional staff, and the safety and ethical conduct of medical research conducted on patients assigned to the Tuscaloosa VAMC, Community Based Outpatient and all other satellite clinics. The incumbent serves as the primary point of accountability in the service line and maximizes the efficient use or available resources. In order to accomplish this, the ACOS, MHSL is involved in providing the framework for developing, planning, directing, coordinating, providing and improving the health care services that are responsive to patient needs and that improve patient health outcomes within the respective service line. The incumbent also provides overall guidance and supervision to subordinate service chiefs, program managers, clinical leads and administrative staff and is ultimately responsible for multiple programs including, but not limited to, addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health intensive case management, psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center, inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, residential rehabilitation and treatment programs, domiciliary, psychiatry, psychology, neuropsychology, internship and residency programs, suicide prevention program and telehealth services. The Chief of Staff is the supervisor of this position. Major duties of the Social Work Program Manager in these clinics, but not limited to: Working specifically with the Associate Chief Nurse, MHSL; Chiefs of Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work and other supervisors, managers and team leaders in the service line to achieve and maintain high standards of performance. The incumbent may delegate authority to subordinate supervisors and hold them responsible for the performance of their specific units. In this regard, the incumbent is administratively responsible for all subordinate supervisors and managers and is the approving official of all goals, policies and procedures established by each. Working collegially with other Associate Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Staff Service Chiefs to accomplish the clinical goals and strategic plans of the organization. - Utilizing independent judgment Participating in organizational planning to include strategic, operational, programmatic and other plans and policies to achieve the mission and vision of the Medical Center. Representing the MHSL on decision-making committees at the medical center. Participating in the development of long and short-term goals for the Service Line and the organization. Demonstrating expertise in and the ability to apply a wide range of professional theories, assessment methods and techniques to a variety of patient populations. Providing professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional and behavioral health. Participating in program development activities. Consulting with and serving as a resource for other professional personnel. Participating, as needed, in the provision of clinical care services within the incumbent's credentials, and/or scope of practice. Maintaining a clinical caseload including individual and/or group therapy within the MHSL Providing intervention and counseling to individual patients as needed in the course of resolving administrative matters within the program(s). Assisting, as needed, with the assistance of other involved leaders, resolving work related interdisciplinary treatment concerns and problems of a complex clinical nature. Engaging in workforce management through assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees, adhering to regulatory timeframes and evaluating employee performance and administering appropriate disciplinary actions as indicated. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 8:00 am-4:30 pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58911F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may 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 4 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 when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Program Manager), GS-15 (1) Experience/Education. The social work program manager at the GS-15 grade level must have at least four years of experience as a VA clinical social worker with at least one-year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level. The social work program manager must evidence possession of progressively higher supervisory and management skills. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. The 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. The social work manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must fully meet the KSAs for the GS-14 grade level and demonstrate all the following professional KSAs: (a) Ability to manage and direct unusually large interdisciplinary programs, complex organizational units, apply effective management practices, plan, design, implement, and evaluate a program(s) that encompasses a wide range of facility/ healthcare system/VISN/CO activities. (b) Ability to oversee issues related to budget projections and participate with senior leaders from the governing body, management and staff in upholding the facility mission, vision, value and strategic plan to include directly interacting with elected officials on VA related issues/concerns (i.e., members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, State and Local entities). (c) Knowledge in establishing policy, procedures and quality monitors while considering multiple priorities, funding sources, and varying resources. (d) Skill in assessing need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues, coordinate and expand the efforts of multiple program elements across a complex system. (e) Knowledge to complete all program evaluations and documents required by the medical center, VISN and VHA Central Office, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). (f) Ability to orient, teach and serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the clinical social work characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding Veterans, family members and caregivers. (g) Skill in balancing responsibilities in a complex environment and to work with great autonomy, set priorities and delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines; analyze complex organizational problems and develop and implement effective solutions for those problems. (h) Ability to promote and effectively manage a workforce which embraces the values and needs of all individuals through long-term commitment, strategic and business planning, education, experience which broadens the mindset and by fully managing human resources. (4) Assignments. 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. At the GS-15 grade level, size, scope, significance and impact is greater than the GS-14 grade level. The broad responsibility includes management of a very large, significantly complex service within the organization. The social work program manager delivers a wide range of specialized professional services that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans, their families, and caregivers. Provides direct oversight to services with multiple complex programs, located at multiple sites and sections across the health care delivery system. The social work program manager is typically located in a complexity level one Health Care System and is assigned as a service line director, associate chief of staff, or service chief within the facility. The service includes staff members of different grades, multiple disciplines, and various treatment sites at multiple locations close to and distant from the primary medical facility. The manager has full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of program operations, including clinical practice of an unusually large number of employees across multiple areas/sites, education, quality assurance for outcomes, human resource management and supervision of the extraordinarily large service. Professional staff under direct supervision may include psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses, health system specialists and patient services assistants. The social work program manager provides strategic planning, including establishment of long and short-range goals, and development of policies and procedures to ensure goal attainment management of administrative and programmatic resources (including budget and line authority within the service), and outcomes monitoring, using data-driven quality assurance processes. They may have the responsibility for managing and supervising additional facility wide programs outside of the Service including supervision, operations, clinical practice, and program management. The manager develops responses to controlled correspondence received by the Medical Center, from VISN, and VHA Central Office levels, inclusive of responding to elected representatives and the Office of Inspector General Hotline concerning Veteran care and other matters of public interest. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 15. This vacancy is announced above the full performance level. Education 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.