Summary

The Chief - Social Work Service - is responsible for defining the mission and vision of the Service - developing the scope of practice for all Social Workers - designing a Social Work Service Plan of Care - and assuring implementation of quality improvement measures. The incumbent is responsible for developing - planning - clarifying - administering - and managing Social Work Services for all areas of VA Northern California Healthcare System (VANCHCS).

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
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination: You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• License or Certification:* You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• *Exception: For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• 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: Social Worker (Service Chief) - GS-0185-14 Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level - and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Experience Requirement: You must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• Examples of specialized experience include - but are not limited to: responsibility for management of small to moderately complex social work service within a healthcare organization
• provides supervision to social work service staff members of different grade or experience levels
• supervision may include multiple disciplines - treatment sites that are limited and in close proximity to the medical facility - and programs are with limited administrative oversite responsibility
• full responsibility for managing and supervising all aspects of social work service operations including clinical practice - program management - education - human resource management and supervision
• Experience must demonstrate possession of supervisory and management skills as well as advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in providing the full range of supervisory duties across multiple service divisions/sections - which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed - performance evaluation - selection of staff - and recommendations of awards - advancements - and when appropriate - disciplinary actions
• Skill in applying legal - ethical - and professional standards to social work practice
• Skill in developing - maintaining - and managing social work services in multiple divisions/sections
• Ability to ensure compliance with social work practice - policy - and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care
• Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership - managers - and other staff on social work qualification standards - practice - competency - productivity - and continuing education requirements
• Skill in administrative oversight to ensure compliance with social work licensure requirements
• 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-14
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-14
• Preferred Experience: Four years of experience in specialty
• three years of experience in leadership
• Knowledge and/or experience working with Homeless Programs Physical Requirements: The work requires the social worker to be mobile throughout the medical center as needed - involving standing - walking - bending - pushing - and lifting (moderately heavy)
• The social worker should be capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment - wheelchairs - and patient stretcher.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and may be posted up to September 30 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 9 - 2025
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals until position has been filled
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker (Service Chief) is responsible for advising management of specific clinical or administrative issues within Social Work Service and within VA Northern California Healthcare System (VANCHCS)
• Additionally - the position serves as a consultant to subordinates - peers and administration
• The incumbent designates service priorities and objectives - supervises - and evaluates Social Workers and other staff assigned - and is responsible for supervising and evaluating the performance of the assigned staff
• The Chief makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance
• Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Ensures the delivery of Social Work Services on a routine and emergent basis - including during non-administrative hours
• Informs other disciplines in writing of changes in Social Work program policies and procedures
• Develops procedures for the coordination of Social Work services and deployment of Social Workers during disasters - drills - and emergency situations
• Drafts service level policies to provide staff accurate - current procedural information - instructions - guidelines - and resources
• Drafts assigned Medical Center policies - and institutes necessary revisions
• Staff selection - education - and career development: Participates in recruiting qualified Social Workers including interviewing - selection - orientation of Social Workers
• Oversees orientation for clinical staff regarding Social Work functions
• Participates in the oversight of facility Social Work scope of practice processes
• Assists with clinical license or state certification as appropriate
• Ensures that unlicensed Social Workers have access to clinical supervision for licensure and/or certification from a licensed Social Worker
• Provides opportunities for professional continuing education through case presentations - workshops - and conferences
• Provides professional - clinical - and administrative supervision to subordinate staff
• Develops position descriptions or functional statements
• Develops performance standards and competency assessments
• Completes performance appraisals
• Participates in/provides input into performance appraisals of Social Workers not assigned to Social Work Service
• Establishes - monitors - and communicates Social Work productivity standards
• Purchase Card Approving Official for the service
• Provides education and consultation to VA staff - Veterans and their families - and staff of non-VA organizations regarding Social Work practice standards - the range of service provided by VA Social Workers - and Social Work professional roles and responsibilities (i.e. - reporting abuse and neglect)
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact customers and staff - including initiating and participating in ethics consultations
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Monday - Friday
• 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m.
• Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates 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: Available
• Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 07844-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates