Summary The incumbent serves as the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Program Support Specialist (CSP) in the Social Work Service. The program provides a state-of-the-art continuum of services, education and resources to caregivers of Veterans with complex needs. The incumbent assists the Program Manager who oversees the service delivery and coordination of care activities for family caregivers who provide personal care services to eligible Veterans regardless of period of service. Responsibilities Administrative Support Provides for the overall administrative support for the CSP. Exercises independent and creative judgement in accomplishing major duties. This may include interpreting administrative policies, assisting in developing local policies, defining administrative requirements, and/or providing advice to CSP Manager on related issues. The PSA provides substantial involvement with policy and action plans to ensure CSP is in compliance with VA Central Office (VACO), VISN, Joint Commission and other entities as appropriate. Interacts frequently with VA HCS management and personnel, VACO, VISN and community officials to keep abreast of program issues that may affect the organization. Provides operational support to the CSP members and performs the full range of clerical, business, and administrative duties that ensure a complete package is submitted for PCAFC review process. Handles numerous requests for information such as status of reports, suspense dates, etc. for matters requiring compliance and similar information on behalf of the CSP. Establishes internal procedures to secure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports and directives and uses own initiative in developing procedures which will increase the general flow of information, access to care and overcome bottlenecks in the administrative process. Independently secures the required administrative and managerial support to meet the operating requirements. Maintains responsibility for service correspondence. Prepares, edits and archives all official correspondence requiring signatures or approvals. Reviews and updates all Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) related to CSP. Ensures accurate, timely and consistent entry of information into appropriate database(s). This information may be of CSP administrative nature, personal health information (PHI) or other socio-economic information pertaining to veterans' and their families. The PSA maintains and tracks program national database and local census. The national database is a complex, nationally implemented, stand-alone computer program that is designed to monitor and manage local Caregiver Support Services throughout VA system. Database related duties may include monitoring and maintaining profiles, oversight and correction of errors and changes. Upon request, he/she prepares reports using database, to collect, compile, analyze and present data regarding the integrity of the program. The PSA assists the team to ensure the secure transmission and receipt of documents needed to submit packages for eligibility, discharge, and appeal determinations for the PCAFC comply with VHA privacy rules. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, the release of access codes, etc. Customer Service The PSA has primary responsibility for establishment, monitoring and maintenance of clinic profiles in caregiver support. He/she advises medical/administrative staff relative to creating new clinic profiles or making changes to established clinics. Uses verbal and written skills to interact on a regular, reoccurring basis regarding resources, policies, documentation available or required for action regarding information of sensitive nature. Uses independent judgement to properly route need of veterans and family members. This may include accesses urgent or crisis intervention staff, community resources or VA HCS resources. Responsible for reviewing complex patient cases for access to care, eligibility, national program database and local census. Acts as timekeeper for Caregiver Support Program and Social Work Service as needed, maintaining time and leave records as needed and directed by position supervisor. Functions as an Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC) for CGSP staff. In this role the incumbent provides a variety of user support assistance such as implementation and support of the services' automated management information systems including, but not limited to, VISTA and CPRS. Uses and accesses the various VA and Service automated systems and software. Special Duties Collects personnel workload and fiscal reports as required by the program and as directed by supervisor. Participates in training receive education, training and operations guidance as it pertains to the CSP and PSA role. Attends briefings and meetings on behalf of CSP staff in absence of CSP Manager as needed. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD20207A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/31/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience GS-06: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, when rendering services to customers (patients) from diverse backgrounds to meet program objectives Knowledge of office administration, correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and required format of VA Correspondence, reports, etc., and ability to interpret complex written procedures; Skill in word processing and other software such as database (e.g., Excel, MS Word, Outlook) programs and charting and graphing of data. Experience managing records and file of creation and maintenance of staff and/or patients, scheduling appointments, knowledge of medical terminology. Possesses strong conflict resolution skills and ability to diffuse stressful situations and manage disagreements. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical Communications Communications Security Management Computer Skills Customer Service Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The work is primarily sedentary with various amount of walking, stooping, sitting, standing, bending, pushing, pulling and carrying light items such as medical records and/or files. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.