The VISN Suicide Prevention Community Engagement Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) Program Manager serves as a primary liaison between the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), consults and contributes to the development of National Suicide Prevention Policies and then oversees the operationalization of these policies at the VISN level by working with facility MH leadership in a coordinated manner.
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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work will require walking, standing, bending and carrying light items in conjunction with travel and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site. The work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting and other facilities with no unusual health hazards. The incumbent observes normal safety precautions. When work is performed in a setting away from the office, the work environment cannot be controlled. This position requires nontraditional work hours to include possible evening, early morning, weekend, and holiday hours. Occasional travel will be required to promote suicide prevention initiatives in the community. The incumbent must have a driver's license without restriction and is necessary for ensuring attendance at face-to-face coalition meetings and/or outreach events. The incumbent who works on off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in General Service Administration (GSA) vehicles.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The CEPC serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention and public health, and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community. The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention. The GS-12 Senior Social Worker reports to the Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Mental Health Service (MHS). Duties: Incumbents for this position will work closely with the VISN SP CEPC Program Manager, the OMHSP Technical Assistance and Recourse Center (TARC), facility SP Program Manager, CEPCs, SPCs and Program Analysts on a day-to-day basis. The incumbent serves as the Senior Social Worker / CEPC for a VISN 10 facility, reporting directly to the Program Manager or Supervisor of Suicide Prevention at that facility. The incumbent must understand the gravity and responsibility of the position, and be able to prioritize, problem solve, and monitor processes so that efficiency, accuracy, and VA compliances are maintained. Assessing Veteran risk for suicide. Identifying appropriate clinical interventions for intervening to prevent suicide - and understanding that these may vary based on individual Veteran needs. Be well versed in evidence-based strategies for reducing suicide risk. Understand the difference between modifiable and non-modifiable (static) risk factors. Understand and be experienced in delivery of front-line clinical MH interventions including, but not limited to: Cognitive behavior therapies, motivational interviewing, safety planning, safety planning. Be knowledgeable about VA programs and treatment options. Be well versed in scopes of practice for disciplines commonly involved in provision of MH care. Experience participating in an RCA, knows how to create a treatment timeline, summarizing clinical care and social circumstance. Draft and review Issue Briefs in accordance with VISN and VACO guidelines. Able to function with a high degree of autonomy, self-driven. Detailed knowledge of co-occurring disorders such as substance use disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, poly-trauma, and chronic pain syndromes, as these can significantly impact on suicidal risk. Familiarity with clinical and administrative principles and practices related to VA Systems. CEPC will participate in ongoing program evaluation and analysis, which will support further program improvements at his / her own facility, and also VISN-wide. Evaluations will be data driven, and adhere to the VA Management System, or the PDSI format. The CEPC will attend, participate in, and provide community-based education, and it is expected that this individual be able to present and represent VA work with a high degree of professionalism. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: No telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92086-O