An audit from the VA inspector general said a lack of clarity for roles hampered coordination at the VHA, and cited lessons that could apply equally to other organizations. Image: Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffIn a report that carries lessons for other agencies that embark on a hiring surge for a particular occupation, the inspector general at the VA has cited shortcomings in planning, communications and accountability for the department’s effort to add staff to combat substance abuse among veterans.
The department received a $96 million boost for that purpose in fiscal 2022, the report said, after a budgetary request noted that less than 30 percent of the approximately 520,000 veterans in VHA with substance use disorder diagnoses received care specific to this disorder in the prior year. Medical centers were expected to hire 90 percent of the 1,180 approved positions—including included nurses, physicians, social workers, case managers, rehabilitation counselors and peer specialists—before the end of the fiscal year.
However, the Veterans Health Administration “did not have effective guidelines and processes in place to ensure the effective coordination and planning of the substance use disorder hiring initiative” and “by that deadline, medical centers had only hired 310 staff (about 26 percent of approved positions) and spent approximately $8 million of the funds intended to support the hiring initiative,” the report said.
“VHA did not clearly communicate hiring priorities to Veterans Integrated Service Networks and medical centers, define and assign roles and responsibilities for implementation and oversight, and generally ensure accountability for the achievement of the initiative’s hiring goals,” it said. For example, three centers that filled only three of their authorized 27 positions did not meet a goal for developing the recruitment packages once the positions were approved by a certain date.
Due to that “lack of clarity around their respective roles, leaders at multiple levels of VHA did not coordinate enough to achieve initiative goals . . . In sum, the implementation lacked effective oversight at every level,” it said, adding that by the end of fiscal 2023, the centers still had filled only 65 percent of the positions.
The report noted that—like other agencies—the VA has faced recruitment challenges but said that it must “make certain that goals are achievable and closely monitor progress on initiatives to help ensure corrective actions are taken for successful implementation.”
Management agreed with recommendations to assure that officials at all levels coordinate and clearly define roles and responsibilities of the initiative, ensure regional and facility staff monitor progress, and ensure that allotted funds that remain unspent are used for the intended purpose.
OPM Advises Agencies on Conducting RIFs During Shutdown
Updated Shutdown Contingency Plans Show Range of Impacts
Use Shutdown as Justification for More RIFs, OMB Tells Agencies
Unions Win a Round in Court Disputes over Anti-Representation Orders
Deferred Resignation Periods End for Many; Overall 12% Drop
Senate Bill Would Override Trump Orders against Unions
See also,
How to Handle Taxes Owed on TSP Roth Conversions? Use a Ladder
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
Best States to Retire for Federal Retirees: 2025
