About this role
Job SummaryThe Palliative Care and End-of-Life Services Supervisory Social Worker is administratively responsible for ensuring compliance of inpatient Hospice services, outpatient Palliative Care services, and the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program at the Tennessee Valley Health Care System. Ensures Veterans living with advanced progressive illness, and their families and caregivers, receive specialized psychosocial support and interdisciplinary care planning.
QualificationsApplicants 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 tohttp://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 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 tohttp://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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: GS-12 Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 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. Knowledge of supervisory duties which includes clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement. Ability to ensure provision of clinical social work services. Ability to provide staff training and development. Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers. 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. At the GS-12 grade level, supervisory social workers typically have significant personnel management responsibilities for a small to moderate sized professional and non-professional staff, including support staff and professional staff at the GS-12 grade level and below. The supervisory social worker is responsible for the professional and administrative management of an area in a social work service, in a care/product line, or multiple facilities. They provide direct clinical services with or without program coordination responsibilities.] Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work is generally performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common of the client population. The incumbent may be required to work an irregular tour and/or weekends as the need arises.
Major DutiesVA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Supervisory Responsibilities Supervises Social Workers across inpatient Hospice, outpatient Palliative Care, and the SAMS Program, performing work at various GS levels up to their own grade, and provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of these programs. The incumbent works independently, providing clinical supervision to staff delivering psychosocial treatment and case management services to eligible Veterans and their families. Performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised, establishing guidelines and performance expectations clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes each employee's work performance, conducting work performance critiques, providing informal feedback, and periodically evaluating employee performance; working to resolve informal complaints and grievances. Administrative and Program Management The incumbent manages and coordinates the daily operations of the SAMS, Palliative Care, and Hospice programs, and provides consultation and education to interdisciplinary staff, medical residents, and colleagues on VA social work practice and policies and procedures across all three program areas. Distributes survivor benefits material created by VA, local, state, and national organizations, and assists with general inquiries regarding SAMS. Shares educational material, implements training focused on specific survivors, caregivers, and patient needs, and provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors. Implements information systems to track service activities, including visits, referrals, demographics, and outcomes. Clinical and Direct Service (SAMS) The incumbent personally performs the direct clinical and administrative functions of the SAMS Program. The incumbent provides consultation on the administrative and clinical considerations of the Decedent Affairs/SAMS Program, as referenced in VHA Directive 1601B.04 and other relevant policy, and uses a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated biopsychosocial concerns of Veterans and their families/NOK. The incumbent demonstrates skill in communication and develops positive, effective relationships with all stakeholders, including Veterans, survivors, local, state, and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations, serving as a consultant for navigating the complex processes survivors and families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies, and functioning as a liaison between community institutions, non-VA providers, and the VA medical facility. Advises Veterans and their NOK of burial benefits and helps Veterans and NOK prearrange burial, interment, or cremation, as desired by the Veteran. Advises surviving relatives about burial benefits and other potential benefits provided by VA; reviews eligibility and entitlement of burial and death allowances; and advises on the process for applying for those benefits, referring specific benefit inquiries to a VBA point of contact. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:71836-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. 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.