Duties
This position is located in the JFHQ, Office of the State Surgeon. The primary purpose of this position is to facilitate preventive, remedial, and support services to optimize psychological health and readiness of National Guard (NG) military members and their families. As part of the Office of the State Surgeon, the incumbent exercises technical oversight of behavioral health (BH) programs and supports the development of an annual program strategy to determine priorities, gaps, needs, and means to achieve annual goals.
1. Supports the psychological health team in developing and executing an annual BH program strategy. Determines program priorities, gaps, and means to meet annual goals. Supports the development and annual review of written standard operating procedures governing the BH system of care. Responsible for psychological health promotion, implementation of BH programs, and evaluation activities. Formulates strategies to generate interest, acceptance, and participation by organizational partners, community partners, and NG Soldiers and family members. Serves as primary advisor on methods to successfully reduce stigma and market psychological health programs.
2. Develops relationships with military and community groups to enhance prevention efforts and expand available BH resources. Builds networking processes. Builds a community provider directory. Develops an extensive array of BH resources, associations, and community partnerships available to support NG soldiers and families. Participates in community activities to: (1) build prevention efforts, (2) learn/influence community problem-solving, and (3) forge community connections that promote psychologically healthy lifestyles within the NG. Participates in relevant committee meetings in an effort to provide input and obtain information related to psychological health issues.
3. Coordinates and implements prevention and education programs. Conducts comprehensive needs assessments and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT) analyses that form the basis for program development activities. Creates action plans to: (1) meet the needs of service members and (2) address treading BH concerns. Develops and provides access to primary prevention services to inform and educate leadership and the NG community at large about the dynamics, treatments, and behaviors associated with psychological illness. Briefs and seeks support from commanders, senior leadership, and key personnel on prevention issues and prevention activities.
4. Conducts clinical screening, evaluation, and consultation services. Applies professional knowledge of the principles, theories, procedures, and practices of social work to clinical duties in accordance with applicable DoD guidelines. Screens records/personnel and makes administrative recommendations for security clearances and Positions of Significant Trust and Authority (POSTA). Conducts annual BH screenings to determine medical readiness. Conducts pre-mobilization and post-mobilization screenings. Provides BH guidance and consultation to soldiers, leaders, and military/community partners. Completes comprehensive assessments under guidelines of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association.
5. Builds efficient processes to manage BH referrals and case management services. Builds evaluation process concerning timely and appropriate: (1) contact with soldiers, (2) collection of required documents and release of information, (3) follow-up communications, (4) timely connection with BH and support services, (5) case documentation, and (6) quality assurance feedback from clients. Uses current and future ARNG systems of record such as Behavioral Health Data Portal (BHDP), MEDCHART/eCase, Behavioral Health Reporting Tool, E-profile, and DoDSER, as appropriate.
6. Conducts population-based behavioral health surveillance to examine trends and further develop targeted prevention and mitigation strategies. Participates with the State Surgeon's team to monitor BH program metrics. Develops and monitors provider utilization metrics, service member experience data, and psychological health outcomes. Responsible to collect population-level data including distribution of service members by demographics (age, gender/sex, education level, race/ethnicity), service characteristics (time in service, rank, unit mission), and deployment characteristics (frequency and duration of deployments, combat exposure).
7. Provides consultation, education, and training to military and non-military health care professionals concerning behavioral health policy, psychological fitness, and primary and secondary prevention programs. Aims to expand competencies of NG providers. Trains providers on psychological health matters, resources, and interventions to increase wellness and psychological readiness.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
- Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
- A Master's in Social Work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education is required. Substitute degrees will not be accepted. Must have 24 months of experience in clinical social work assignments.
- Selective Placement Factor: Possess a current, unrestricted State license to practice clinical social work independently.
- The incumbent of this position description must have, at a minimum, a completed National Agency Check (NAC) prior to position assignment.
- This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
- This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain privileging for the DOD/AFMS/ANGMS IAW DHA PM 6025-13 Vol 4 and DAFMAN 44-119.
- Must maintain credentials requirements at all times (i.e. current and unrestricted state license, BLS, clinical competencies, etc.) IAW DHA PM 6025-13 Vol 4 and DAFMAN 44-119.
- Position requires Basic Life Support (BLS) in accordance with local MDG policies. Must be obtained with 6 months of onboarding.
- This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use.
- Must be privileged for independent practice by the Credentials Committee at the employing Medical Treatment Facility.
- A minimum of two (2) years within the past five (5) years in the independent practice of clinical social work is highly desired.
- Possess a current, unrestricted license to practice clinical social work independently in any one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S Virgin Islands.
- Incumbent may share on-call duty during weeknights and/or weekends on a rotational basis as required consistent with other mental health professionals of the same specialty performing like duties.
- This position may be identified as having (regular contact with children), requiring a State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check to be completed on any person selected for the position.
- Completion of appropriate clinical and administrative duties may involve (after hours) care or work in addition to regular duty hours.
- No record of conviction by special or general courts-martial or civilian courts of offenses.
- No record of conviction by special or general courts-martial or civilian courts of offenses listed in AR 27-10 (Military Justice), Chapter 24, or otherwise required to register as a sexual offender under AR 27-10, Chapter 24.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have 24 months of experience in clinical social work assignments. Completion of the Air Force Social Work Internship Program may be substituted for 12 months of the specialized experience requirement. This experience demonstrates particular competencies of knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Knowledge of social work theories, principles, techniques, and resources. Must have specialized experience in professional social work that includes interviewing people to establish the nature and extent of their problems, helping them work-out plans for improving the situation, providing assistance and services, referring them to community resources and other organizations as indicated, and assisting them to understand and modify their own patterns of behavior when appropriate. Except as stated above, no other substitution of education for specialized experience is allowed.
Education
The following education is required to qualify for position:
EDUCATION SELECTIVE FACTOR: A Master's degree in Social Work from a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) must be acceptable to The Surgeon General.
Applicants must have professional unrestricted state licensure. For award and retention of cited military skills, officers must possess valid and current licenses issued by a U.S. jurisdiction at a level allowing independent clinical social work practice.
You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
1. Must understand labor relations, military operations, and the Military Health System, TRICARE and VA as it pertains to the NGPHP Program.
2. Professional knowledge of social work practices, principles, and theories to develop and implement comprehensive primary and secondary prevention programs that address effective programs to prevent or lessen the impact of a wide range of psychosocial and environmental problems such as sociopathic personalities and family groups who react to their circumstances with impulsive behavior that may be self-destructive or depredatory; provide training for other health care professionals and other installation personnel on issues related to the promotion of psychological health; coordinate programs; and enlist the aid of community organizations/agencies.
3. Professional knowledge of complex helping systems and professional organizations, how they positively or negatively affect individual and family welfare, and the multiple ways these systems and organizations operate to deliver services.
4. Knowledge and experience in the organization, management, and administration of programs and services to participate in program planning and in the development and maintenance of public understanding and sound working relationships with local and community agencies.
5. Professional knowledge of a wide array of psychological problems and disorders that affect adults, families, and organizations and the varied resources needed to treat them.
6. Skill in applying professional community organization skills related to the formulation of needs assessments, development of prevention programs, and the marketing of programs.
7. Professional knowledge of problem solving strategies and evidence-based treatments for a full range of psychiatric disorders to plan and provide short-term problem resolution to clients or refer them appropriately for clinical treatment.
8. Ability to directly apply professional diagnostic skills to individuals and families.
9. Skill in applying psychological and social work methods and theory in an outpatient clinical setting and providing consultation for health care providers and military leaders.
10. Excellent skills in oral and written communication to include report writing and maintaining proper records to document services provided, including patient care, follow up, and referrals.
11. Ability to administer and interpret select psychological and needs-assessment measures.
12. Ability to assess individual, family, group, and community needs, provide a wide array of preventive and problem solving resolutions as indicated.