Career Center

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2022 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. English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of experience in behavioral health setting, assessing and treating conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety. Experience with program development including responsibility allocating fiscal budget. Experience in compiling, tracking and evaluating program data Experience working with veterans Experience with community outreach Grade Determinations: GS12 Senior Social Worker 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. 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 following KSAs: a. Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. b. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. c. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. d. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. e. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Advanced Practice Level: For all assignments above the full performance (journey) 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. Advanced Practice Level is defined as the ability to provide independent and expert clinical psychosocial and case management services in a specialized area of practice to Veterans who tend to have serious and severe crises, may lack any familial and community support, may be poor self-monitors, may frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or may have major deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support. The advanced practice or senior social worker has an increased depth and breadth of practice skills; has expertise in participating in the professional development of colleagues through mentorship and teaching; demonstrates leadership in developing and expanding professional intervention strategies; demonstrates leadership in defining and attending to professional practice issues; and has the ability to expand the conceptual knowledge of the profession. The advanced practice or senior social worker will make independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action; the consequences to the Veteran of these decisions and actions may be quite serious. Work involves intensive social work services requiring the exercise of mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of complex social work practice skills not typically required in routine social work interventions. The advanced practice or senior social worker has mastered a range of specialized interventions and provides consultation to colleagues, renders professional opinions based on experience and expertise, develops new models of psychosocial assessment or intervention, and incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment. The advanced practice or senior social worker utilizes outcome evaluations to further treatment and designs system changes based on empirical findings. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 VA Qualification Standards. http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/Directives-Handbooks/Direct_Hand.htm The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: moderate lifting/carrying under (15-44 pounds), reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking/standing up to 4 hours; kneeling up to 2 hours; both legs required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; hearing (aid permitted); emotional and mental stability. ["The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention and facilities 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\nengagement. 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 the assigned VA Health Care facility and the surround catchment area. Coalition building outreach activities include: 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.); 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; impact] Awareness Table- Veteran Specific Event, Non-Veteran Specific Event. Serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention and facilities 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 (VISN) level. The CEPC is a subject matter expert (SME) in state and local community suicide prevention resources and education connections. Promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention. Responsible for developing, facilitating, and strengthening suicide prevention coalitions in the community. Connects with VA programs and stakeholders including, but not limited to, Veterans, Veterans 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 the assigned VA Health Care facility and the surrounding catchment area. Demonstrates effective public speaking skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a variety of audiences. Fosters strong collaborative relations with the suicide prevention team in the development and implementation of suicide prevention educational programs and initiatives. Demonstrates strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, working with staff and stakeholder at all knowledge and\nproficiency levels. Understands and disseminates relevant research findings through clinical practice, education, and consultation with non-VA community partners as well as other VA health care professionals and administrators. Comprehends and maintains knowledge of current VA guidelines, policies, Federal regulations, and law governing benefits for Veterans. This knowledge is critical in assisting Veterans with connecting with needed services for which\nthey are eligible. Collaborates in the development and delivery of education and outreach services that encompasses underserved veteran populations and expands SP coalition building in communities in the Facility's geographical catchment area and may include regional or state events. Serves as a clinical member of the facility Suicide Prevention team. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]