Summary

The Mental Health (MH) Supervisory Social Worker functions as the Clinical Operations Manager (COM) located in the Mental Health Service under the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary (BHIP) Program Manager at VA Northern California Health Care System.

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: Non-citizens may only 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part
• 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: Supervisory Social Worker, GS-13 Education and Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment
• 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 Supervisory Social Workers 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, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines
• Skill in a range of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement
• Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services by supervised social workers
• Ability to delegate authority, manage priorities, coordinate work, and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems, develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations, and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service
• Ability to provide staff training and development
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39, Social Work Qualification Standards, Veterans Health Administration, dated September 10, 2019
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Hearing required (aid permitted).

Duties

• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m.
• Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: As authorized per Agency policy
• this is not a remote or virtual position
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized The Supervisory Social Worker functions as the Clinical Operations Manager (COM) and works in close collaboration with the Mental Health (MH) Management Team to facilitate the logistical and operational needs across MH programs at their site
• The Fairfield/Mare Island COM directly supervises a workforce of approximately 8 employees
• The COM helps to ensure that the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team meets the overall performance standards, measures, and mission of the VA and the BHIP Program
• The COM ensures timely, integrated, efficient and effective delivery of MH service across the continuum of care for Veterans who are served at that site
• Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Ensures efficient delivery of services related to BHIP program, involving both day-to-day operations and long-term planning and growth
• Attends and/or facilitates regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery
• Assists the BHIP Program Manager by managing and monitoring appropriate performance indicators, making adjustments as needed to assure adherence to programmatic expectations
• Provides oversight to BHIP team operations in order to assure comprehensive provision of collaborative care
• Assists the BHIP Program Manager by managing, monitoring, and adjusting site-based and individual productivity metrics to address inefficiencies and assure systemic growth
• Provides local operational oversight around utilization, bookability, and performance metrics, assures grid accuracy and maintains DSS mapping to meet programmatic expectations
• Hires and trains all BHIP staff at a given site
• Coordinates with professional leads for those professions outside of Social Work
• Resolves informal complaints and grievances
• develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary
• Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area
• Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests
• Assures that subordinates are properly trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations
• Establishes and monitors clinic profiles in terms of availability, utilization and scheduling, and staff productivity
• Reports gaps in resources, either personnel or equipment, in a timely manner to the ACOS Office and appropriate management team members
• Attends site management meetings and serves as a liaison with delegated authority as needed to address site specific operational concerns
• Works with the facility management to maintain a clear understanding of policy and up to date procedures concerning local safety issues, disaster planning, and related preparedness concerns
• Communicates with other MH Managers and MH Administrative Officer regarding any space needs or issues at a given site
• This includes acting as the MH POC and MH liaison, directing issues to and reporting back from the appropriate authority
• Coordinates with and serves as MH liaison to Telehealth, BDMS, Clinical Informatics, IT and other services as needed in order to facilitate efficient clinical operations and address local problems across programs
• Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line and medical center level
• Coordinates with facility management to assure that engineering and physical plant concerns are addressed in a timely manner
• Participates in root cause analysis and addresses action plan items related to patient safety and patient care issues
• Diagnostic assessment of the patient's present mental and social functioning based on developmental and vocational history that can be used by others for treatment planning or disability rating purposes
• Use of the DSM 5-TR to make clinical assessments and develop psychotherapeutic modalities including referral to a psychiatrist for prescription of appropriate medications or clarification of diagnosis
• Represent VA NCHCS at professional community group/events and committees, in conferences/meetings with higher ranking managers, supervisors, and staff from other disciplines or work units, and/or with representatives of local public interest groups, congressional district offices and employees of state and local governments, as requested
• Other duties as assigned.