Social Worker - Program Coordinator (GPD Liaison)

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

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.

03Licensure

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/. English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(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).

04Grade Determinations

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.

Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

05Preferred Experience

Knowledge of Federal Grant Programs and documentation of standards. Experience in oversight in program management, particularly in housing/homeless programs. Ability to monitor performance, identify issues and recommend corrective action. Strong clinical experience working with the homeless population preferred. 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.

06Physical Requirements

You may be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation.

The Social Worker (Program Coordinator) serves as the GPD Liaison and monitors, coordinates, and provides oversight of services delivered by community-based programs funded under VA's Homeless Providers Grant & Per Diem Program. The role ensures veterans receive high-quality supportive housing and services consistent with federal regulations and national policy. Authority for the program derives from VHA Directive 1162.01 dated November 17, 2020.

The Social Worker - GPD Liaison has experience that demonstrates advanced practice skills and sound professional judgment with at least two years in an area of specialized social work practice. The Social Worker is licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level, which includes passage of an ASWB advanced generalist or clinical examination.

The Social Worker interfaces with all GPD grantees in the medical center's catchment area, conducts inspections, coordinates placements and authorizations, and monitors performance and compliance against national GPD goals, per-diem rules, and program agreements. VA medical centers must ensure that veterans in community-based funded programs receive quality services. The Social Worker is responsible for the oversight of these services and the case management of the veterans who receive them.

Additional duties include, but are not limited to: Provide and coordinate case management at GPD sites; verify veteran status using approved systems; and ensure admissions align with the GPD veteran definition (no length-of-service minimum; dishonorable and certain court-martial discharges excluded). Maintains a field presence more than 75% of the time and transport Veterans to scheduled appointments when alternative transportation options cannot be arranged.

Link veterans to VA clinical services, benefits, and community resources; and coordinate transitions to permanent housing (including Transitions in Place), HUD-VASH, SSVF, employment support, and income benefits. Maintains participant records in HOMES; ensure confidentiality consistent with local policy.

Leads or participates in initial and annual inspections using the national checklist; and confirms Life Safety Code compliance, including the requirement that all facilities be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system unless specifically exempted. Verifies length-of-stay controls: no veteran may remain longer than 24 months except under permitted exceptions, and no more than one-half of veterans may reside at a facility longer than 24 months at any time.

Conduct and document quarterly performance assessments with grantees, completed no later than January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30; compare accomplishments to GPD performance goals; identify problems; propose solutions; and retain administrative records. Additional duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized