Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - Section Lead

This Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - Section Lead position is in Mental Health services at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Augusta, ME location.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Work Section Lead reports directly to the Chief of Mental Health or her/his designee. The incumbent may provide administrative oversight to several multidisciplinary programs within the MHS at the direction of the Chief, MHS. The specific programs being supervised will change as the needs of the Mental Health Service evolve, and the Social Work Section Lead is expected to adapt to the needs of the service. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Serves as a subject matter expert for Social Work in Mental Health Supervises a group of employees performing work at the GS-12 levels and below, including advanced practice social workers and social work program coordinators. Provides administrative, technical, and clinical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Provides technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders (e.g. state, local, and private agencies, and universities). Provides direct patient care services in an outpatient or inpatient setting, identifying patients' mental and medical health problems and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs. Maintains a panel of patients with a wide variety of psychiatric disorders in collaboration with other mental health disciplines to provide comprehensive mental health care. Successfully utilizes and can coach others in the use of telehealth treatment modalities. Completes FPPE/OPPE processes in accordance with established procedures and best practices and completes and/or assigns in a timely manner any chart audits for credentialing of all Social Workers. Conducts or delegates to social work staff protected peer reviews for identified cases. Monitors and communicates to supervised staff performance and workload expectations consistent with local and national VA standards. Provides broad oversight to social work training programs aligned with mental health. Communicates actively and effectively to maintain and strengthen relationships and collaboration among the senior leadership of Mental Health Service and the Social Work Executive / Chief. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30a.m. to 4p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. 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). 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: May be authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04544 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required, selectee must file a financial disclosure report, OGE Form 450, with the 30 days of onboarding and then annually. Notification: Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

You 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. May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process. 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.