Senior Social Worker (Suicide Prevention Coordinator/REACH)

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) , a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 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 substitute for the master’s degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to 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 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 NOTE: 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. 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 – GS 12 The candidate must have at least two years of experience after advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice. One year must be equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level (completion of at least one year of post‑MSW experience in health care or other social work‑related settings, VA or non‑VA, and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level or doctoral degree in social work). Senior social workers have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and judgment. They are experts in their specialized area of practice and may hold 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. Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level. They must also be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience Familiarity working with Veterans in suicide risk assessment, serving Veterans diagnosed with same‑day mental health needs and/or a serious mental illness. Familiarity and skill in evidence‑based practices is important for this role, while working in a Veteran‑centric environment. At least two years should be in an area of specialized social work practice in mental health and substance abuse treatment. The incumbent has a post‑2‑year independent clinical license or certification by a state at the advanced practice level, which includes an ASWB advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state. Assignment For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher‑level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Senior social workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work at an advanced level. They typically practice in a major program area such as a polytrauma rehabilitation center, a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center, a national VHA referral center, or other program areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Senior social workers may have administrative responsibility for clinical program development and are accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. They collaborate with other team members in providing comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensuring equity of access and quality care. Senior social workers provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in‑service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff. References VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 Physical Requirements The physical demands of this position involve active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, bending, carrying light items such as paper, books, small parts, writing reports, writing clinical notes, using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopy machines, and possibly driving an automobile. The work is performed in an urgent care clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to communicable diseases common to the specialties present within the Specialty Outpatient Mental Health Clinic or Urgent Care Clinic. Strenuous physical activity is not required. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 12. #J-18808-Ljbffr