About this role
Job Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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 4 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/.
English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 Determinations: : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker (Program Coordinator), 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. 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.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a 12.
Physical
Requirements
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to communicable diseases common to the homeless populations. Much of the work is performed in a setting away from the office, where the environment cannot be controlled. Must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. A pre-placement physical evaluation is required and shall be completed for VHA full-time, part-time and intermittent positions for all VA applicants who will be assigned to work in a VHA healthcare facility.
A preplacement evaluation must be completed prior to entry on duty. This must include an occupational history, immunization status and health and tuberculosis screening. Must be able to operate a government vehicle safely. The work requires traveling throughout the community including entering patient homes. Typical activities involve sitting, driving distances of 50 miles. Annual flu shots are required or have the proper waiver.
Major Duties
- VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This position serves as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) for James J. Peters (JJP) Bronx VA Medical Center. The SPC is organizationally co-aligned with Mental Health Service and Social Work Service but provides Suicide Prevention services for the JJP VAMC catchment area. The incumbent manages the daily operation of the Suicide Prevention Program (SPP), provides care coordination and case management services, administers crisis interventions, promotes system and community-wide crisis resources, provides suicide prevention education and training, and collects/records mandatory data for National, Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) and local reporting services. The SPC is a member of the Suicide Prevention Team (SPT) and collaboratively works with the SPT members in the development of policies and procedures for program operations, implementation of suicide prevention strategies with an emphasis on ensuring that all appropriate measures are taken to prevent suicide. Primary duties of this position include: The coordination and monitoring of mental health and medical services for Veterans identified as "high risk" for suicide, collaboration with the Veteran's Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) and clinical treatment team to provide suicide prevention consultation, track treatment progress, and provide individualized, comprehensive case management services. S/he collaborates with treating clinicians to assess risk and provide guidance about criteria for Patient Record Flags Category I - High Risk for Suicide (HRS-PRF) placements and ensures that high-risk Veterans are receiving appropriate care following their HRS-PRF placements, including increased frequency of clinical care visits and follow-up after missed appointments. In conjunction with the healthcare team, the incumbent identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Adheres to VA and mandated reporter requirements. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on abuse, neglect, exploitation, and intimate partner violence issues. The incumbent is responsible for responding to referrals from staff members, the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), and other touch points to ensure that at-risk Veterans immediately receive care and services. The SPC performs mandated outreach and awareness activities as a member of the SPT to increase awareness of suicide prevention best practices and to improve the public's understanding and knowledge of suicide risk factors, military culture, lethal means safety and the accessibility of available resources, such as the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The incumbent engages in educational activities including, but not limited to, dissemination of clinical practice guidelines, educational materials related to suicide prevention, training both clinical and nonclinical staff within VA to identify and respond to Veterans who are at increased risk for suicide and providing training to community organizations and staff who have contact with Veterans (e.g. local SPP procedures, suicide prevention topics such as crisis response, safety planning, postvention, suicide risk screening and evaluation). Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.
Work Schedule: Full-time Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 74570 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
Contact [email protected] for questions/assistance.
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.