Summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention(OMHSP) is dedicated to providing access to quality mental health care and preventing suicide among our Nation's Veterans. To ensure that our Veterans have the support they deserve, OMHSP launched the Suicide Prevention (SP) 2.0 initiative, a public health approach to prevent Veteran suicide.

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
• Education: Have 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
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified
• (a)For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, 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
• (b)A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. §
• 7403(f)
• Grandfathering: 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 (September 10, 2019) 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
• Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-12 (1) Experience and Education
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience
• (2)Licensure/Certification
• Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring
• (b)Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program
• (c)Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program
• (d)Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s)
• (e)Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice
• (4)Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Program coordinators at the GS-12 grade level are administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area, such as but not limited to: Spinal Cord Injury, Homeless Continuum Veteran Program, Hospice and Palliative Care Program Suicide Prevention Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, Caregiver Support Program and Community Nursing Home Program
• The program coordinator may be the sole practitioner in this specialty at the facility and typically provide direct patient care services in the program area
• The program coordinator oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use
• They may be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery
• The program coordinator provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service
• They may be responsible for, or contribute to, the program's resource and fiscal management, monitoring control points developing the annual budget, operating within that budget, and accounting for appropriated funds
• The program coordinator is administratively responsible for the clinical programming and prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use
• They provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff
• They initiate and conduct a variety of program or service audits and complete designated clinical practice audits and reports, including productivity assessments
• They oversee program operations and evaluations, identifying areas for improvement, gathering relevant data, assessing the data, developing and implementing ideas for improvement and evaluating efficacy of improvement efforts
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 (Social Worker Qualification Standard) The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: "This position may require walking, and light lifting."

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the state and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level
• The CEPC is a subject matter expert (SME) in state and local community suicide prevention resources and education connections
• The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention
• The CEPC also has clinical experience in working with Veterans presenting in crisis and in facilitating mental health treatment engagement
• The CEPC is responsible for developing, facilitating, and strengthening suicide prevention coalitions in the community
• The CEPC will connect with VA programs and stakeholders including, but not limited to, Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, congressional staff, media, community business partners, and community members throughout the health care system and VISN catchment areas to provide education on suicide prevention related topics and services
• The incumbent serves as a SME, supporting coalitions by providing new or existing education and outreach initiatives on behalf of Harry S
• Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital (Truman VA) and the surrounding catchment area
• Coalition building outreach activities include: [High Impact] Coalition Building/Meeting - Meet with prospective community stakeholder(s), Meet with existing community stakeholder(s), Meet with coalition leadership (remote or in person), Coalition meeting (general), Coalition subcommittee meeting, Coalition sponsored event/public meeting, Coalition evaluation activities (survey distribution, data collection, key informant interviews, etc.)
• [Moderate Impact] Media/Marketing - Interview (print or broadcast), Social media, Campaign (Paid/PSAs)
• Training - Lethal Means, Mental Health Apps Hope Box, PTSD, etc.), Military Culture, Other Gatekeeper Training (QPR, ASSIST), Postvention, Safety Planning, S.A.V.E., Suicide Prevention 101, Suicide Risk Evaluation, Whole Health/Wellness
• [Low Impact] Awareness Table - Veteran Specific Event, Non-Veteran Specific Event
• The CEPC serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the state and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VlSN) level
• The CEPC is a subject matter expert (SME) in state and local community suicide prevention resources and education connections
• The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN15EDRP@VA.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more
• 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized