Career Center

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center, under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line, Suicide Prevention Program. The position is responsible for the 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 VISN level. Basic Requirements Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Regulations. 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 Master 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/. 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 Provision. 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). Grade Requirements Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Education and Experience. 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. 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. Assignment. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, September 10, 2019. Available in the Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. The employee may sit comfortably in an office or clinic to perform the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, stooping, bending, and carrying light items such as papers, books, etc. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Correctable near sighted and far-sighted vision; Hearing (Aid permitted). With patients who suffer with mental illness, there may be an occasional risk of violence requiring the use of good judgment and safety precautions. The incumbent will be required to make site/home visits and participate in outreach events on a routine basis, which may require driving a government vehicle. The incumbent must possess a valid unrestricted state driver's license. ["The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) serves as a subject matter expert (SME) 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, as well as in state and local community suicide prevention resources and education connections. The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention. 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 CEPC 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. Coalition building outreach activities include: [High Impact] Coalition Building/Meeting - Meeting with prospective community stakeholder(s), meeting with existing community stakeholder(s), meeting 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. Though this position is primarily administrative and outreach in nature, approximately 10% of the incumbent's time will be spent providing direct services to veterans in the Suicide Prevention Program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Will be required to work evening, weekends and holidays as needed. Subject to change based on the needs of the agency.\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a remote or virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]