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.

Duties

Clinical Functions The incumbent is knowledgeable about the diagnostic categories that comprise the majority of combat Veterans with psychiatric illness. These diagnostic categories include PTSD, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders and drug/alcohol abuse or dependence. The social worker functions as a coordinator of care of Veterans at high-risk for suicide and will track and report on Veterans determined to be at high-risk for suicide and Veterans who attempt suicide. He/she will monitor treatment to insure that needed services are being received. He/she will respond to consults/referrals from the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and other staff. The incumbent will provide general consultation to providers concerning resources for suicidal individuals, as well as expertise and direction in the areas of system design to prevent suicidal deaths within their local VA medical centers. This includes: working with providers to ensure that monitoring and treatment is intensified for high risk patients; and High-risk patients receive education and support about approaches to reduce risks. The social worker assigned at the SPC will collaborate with community organizations and partners and provide training to their staff members who have contact with Veterans. He/she will provide training to all VA Staff who have contact with patients, including clerks, schedulers and those who are in telephone contact with Veterans, so they know how to get immediate help when Veterans express any suicide plan or intent. Trainings will include information about risk factors, warning signs, treatment options and resources. The incumbent will establish an on-going Gatekeeper Training program with non-clinical frontline staff to assure that they are aware of options for patients who they come in contact with during crisis situations. He/she will work with the interdisciplinary team to ensure appropriate coordination of the provision of a level of care for all Veterans that meet VA and JCAHO standards. The incumbent is responsible to document comprehensive treatment plans and progress notes using CPRS. Administrative Functions The incumbent must have a working knowledge of program evaluation and quality assurance principles and techniques. He/she will develop and distribute outreach materials to include brochures, fact sheets, web content and other targeted information which highlights suicide prevention, warning signs and risk factors. In addition, he/she will develop and implement an ongoing plan for providers, Veterans, families and members of the community on risk factors and warning signs for suicide and treatment options. The incumbent will independently plan, design, implement the program, determine program goals and objectives, and complete reports for the VISN or VA Central Office. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. The incumbent must have the ability to recognize internal and external conditions and influences, including VHA (Veterans Health Administration) mandates and programs that require the establishment of new or revised management policies, standards and procedures, including the skill to design and develop the tools necessary to cope with varied situations. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52045F Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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 (MSW) 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. Please note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Licensure. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations. 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). Must pass a background check. Grade Requirements: GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) 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 GS12 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.] Experience/ 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. License. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. 2. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. 3. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. 4. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). 5. Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary. There is some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, files, manuals and records. For additional information on Physical Standards please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019. http://www.va.gov/vapubs/

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Carl Vinson VA Medical Center 1826 Veterans Boulevard Dublin, GA 31021 US
• Name: Jenna McCarthy
• Email: [email protected]