Career Center

The goal of the Medical Foster Home Program (MFH) is to serve as the program coordinator at the GS-12 grade and is administratively responsible for the MFH Program in the VAMHCS Catchment area. The Coordinator works with the Home Based Primary Care Program. Coordinator manages the daily operation of the program. 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. Professional knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and social work care management for patients with a wide range of physical, mental health, and psychosocial problems. Knowledge of the psychosocial, medical and mental health issues common in OEF/OIF service members and Veterans following deployment to a war zone. Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness and advocating for the special needs of the population. Comprehensive knowledge of VHA, VBA, and other government entitlement programs and benefits available to Veterans, including community resources and services for the disabled, local peer counseling programs or groups, and Federal laws or regulations regarding the disabled. Comprehensive understanding of Federal laws and regulations, VA policies, and resources applicable to CIS Veterans. Knowledge of the requirements of the Mental Health Uniform Services Handbook, and the VHA's Care Management goals, objectives, and guidelines. Knowledge of the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones and methods of evaluating the worth of program accomplishments. Demonstrated skill to plan, organize, direct work and negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations where the proposals involve substantial agency resources and require extensive changes in established procedures. Demonstrated skill in both oral and written communication with a wide variety of individuals. Ability to operate a personal computer with a variety of software in order to enter required information on patient care issues. 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs. References: VA Handbook 5005 reference APPENDIX G39. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-12 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["Major Duties: The MFH Coordinator provides administrative oversight of program and administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, patient demographics, equipment utilization, and patient satisfaction. The incumbent provides recruitment and placement of Veteran residents, continuous performance improvement, and markets the model of care to community groups and agencies to promote the program. The Coordinator will provide initial and ongoing psychosocial assessment of chronically ill, highly disabled Veterans and their families/caregivers in their place of residence, direct treatment of the Veterans/caregivers, end of life issues, and problems related to continuing care in a residential setting vs. institutional setting. Assess at risk factors and develops an initial treatment plan in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. Case management responsibilities include utilizing assessment skills to monitor the quality of relationships between the Veteran and the caregiver, assisting with conflict management when indicated, coordinating care and making transfer arrangements when foster care is no longer appropriate for the Veteran. Technical assistance provided is based on monitoring activities and program reviews, and the development and analysis of information. The incumbent performs program analysis, development, review, research, design, and contact work as possible with various agencies (public, DOD, State, etc. ) Incumbent has knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations that pertain to the care of vulnerable adults in community residential homes. The incumbent has responsibility for coordinating initial fire and safety inspections of these homes to ensure the safety of the Veteran population served. Thereafter, the incumbent coordinates the inspection of the homes on an annual basis. Performs work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of the Medical Foster Program. A substantial portion of the workload directed by the this position is carried out at one or more locations that are physically removed from the main unit under conditions that make day to day coordination complex to administer. Responsible for key project activities related to the planning, development, and implementation of the project component. Independently deals with crises and effectively uses his/her problem solving skills to assist the Veteran, family, and staff and monitors homes with unannounced visits. In addition, incumbent communicates with entire multidisciplinary team regarding Veterans contentment with home and care received in the home. The incumbent is responsible to the Program Director, Home and Community Based Services, Geriatrics and Extended Care, but practices independently, exercising initiative and independent judgment in day to day activities. Supervision/Consultation is of an administrative and professional nature; with the Program Director providing guidelines to the general policy and direction of SWS or the Program that the incumbent coordinates. Demonstrates knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric age groups; ability to assess and interpret data about the patient's status; and ability to identify age-specific needs and provide the appropriate care based upon the age related factors. The incumbent follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., and uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; transmitting and receiving email. The Coordinator uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VISTA) and CPRS to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. The Coordinator effectively communicates with and utilizes other disciplines (e.g., nursing, medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementation. Implements and monitors security policies/procedures. Implements and monitors compliance with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources. The MFH Coordinator fosters a high profile of the VA Occupational Safety and Health Program by assuring employee awareness of potential safety hazards, promptly reporting all injuries and effective corrective actions necessary to eliminate safety and health hazards in the work area. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results