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Summary The Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program Coordinator develops, implements, and oversees a comprehensive Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support Program (SAMS). The SAMS Program Coordinator provides social work services, such as outreach, bereavement support, education, resources, referrals, and psychosocial interventions to Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors, and staff who receive services from the program. Responsibilities Major duties include, but not limited to: Memorial Support: The SAMS Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and managing a facility-wide Memorial Support Program. Survivors Assistance The SAMS Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and managing a facility-wide Bereavement Program. The SAMS Program Coordinator works closely with multiple services, multidisciplinary staff of all leadership and non-leadership positions. This includes, but not limited to, Medical Doctors, the facility Business Administration Service (BAS) and Chaplain Services. The SAMS Program Coordinator practices at the advanced practice level and has specialized knowledge in the field of end-of-life and death care, bereavement care, and survivors' assistance. The SAMS Program Coordinator may possess specialty certifications in the fields of end-of-life care, death-care, and/or grief and bereavement care. The SAMS Program Coordinator manages the daily operations of the program, develops policies and procedures for program operation, and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. The incumbent manages and controls the use of data related to the program regarding day-today functioning and program evaluation. The SAMS Program Coordinator develops and delivers an array of services and programming. The SAMS Program Coordinator is expected to provide direct clinical care in the SAMS program and may be required to provide clinical care in other areas of VASNHS. The incumbent participates in expanding clinical knowledge related to the areas of SAMS field -survivor's assistance, and memorial support. The incumbent provides education, training, and consultation to clinical and administrative staff in outpatient and inpatient areas with questions regarding programming, eligibility, services, and policies and procedures. The incumbent develops and uses informational literature, program brochures, packets, and similar literature. The incumbent provides staff education, training, coaching, and mentoring on program tasks and customer services. The incumbent will conduct training for staff and trainees regarding the specialty program and population; will provide education, information, and liaison with resources for Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors in the community; and will provide technical assistance and educational sessions to community organizations. The SAMS Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and managing a facility-wide Bereavement Program. The incumbent identifies and tracks deaths that occur at VASNHS campuses. The incumbent contacts next-of-kin within required timeframes of a Veteran's death; assesses NOK grief; provides skilled, brief bereavement counseling; refers to VA and community resources; and provides training, coordination, consultation, and supervision for staff, trainees assigned to the program The SAMS Program Coordinator contacts next of kin of enrolled Veterans who die in the community. These contacts include providing condolences, offering assistance to navigate Veteran and survivor benefits and services, and to provide referrals to VBA, NCA, Vet Centers, Veteran Service Organizations, and non-VA community resources and organizations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm May vary depending on deployment and/or assigned facility needs Travel: Up to 25% may be required. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized .Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS 12 In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate 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. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. NOTE: A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE/CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. (b)Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. (c)Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. (d)Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (e)Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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. Program coordinators at the GS-12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program. The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area. The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They 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. The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds. The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments. They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts. References: VA Handbook 5005/Part II/Appendix G39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the Social Worker or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require regular travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who aid and support to the HUD-VASH Program and its Veterans. Must be able to lift 10 to 15 pounds, drive a GSA Vehicle, climb stairs, and regularly be out in the community in the local weather. 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. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. 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.