Summary
The primary purpose of the position of the Social Science Specialist (CEPC) Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator is to serves as a content matter resource for community-based suicide prevention and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community. This position is designated to help lead the implementation of VA's public health approach to Suicide Prevention (SP 2.0) through community-based prevention strategies.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open to veterans with preference and US citizens.
Duties
Major duties include but not limited to:
Utilize a wide range of management skills and analytical techniques to advise professional and scientific work in one or any combination of the social sciences. The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
The CEPC is responsible for community capacity development for suicide prevention by serving in a leadership role in communicating with, organizing and managing community partner interactions and in helping to build coalitions to implement suicide prevention programs aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the community, state, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) levels. The CEPC serves as a seasoned content matter expert for suicide prevention and public health and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the local, state and VISN level.
Provides leadership for coalition management -- leads alignment of community coalition goals with VA goals, collaborates with non-VA coalition leaders, attends coalition meetings, manages and attends coalition sponsored events/public meetings, conducts and/or supports coalition
evaluation activities; and leads other coalition activities defined in a coalition action plan.
Is responsible for establishing and maintaining strong relationships between the VA suicide prevention team and community-based veteran organizations and leadership.
Develops and maintains content expertise in suicide prevention through, networking, internet access, published literature, national conference calls, and educational offerings and professional meetings. Promotes and utilizes evidence-based guidelines at all stages of program development and
implementation. Oversees outreach to educate community partners, the media, VA and other government stakeholders to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalitions. Develops and delivers education and outreach services that encompasses underserved veteran populations and expands SP coalition building in communities in the Facility's geographical catchment area and may include regional or state events.
Serves as a subject matter expert in public health and suicide prevention and implements VHA Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention including collaborating with community, Veteran, and state partners to develop, conduct, and/or support community-based suicide prevention programs as defined and supported by the VHA Suicide Prevention Program. The position will facilitate planning, direction, and timely execution of policy, training, education, research and evaluation, and/or data and surveillance projects/programs pertaining to the prevention of Veteran Suicide.
The CEPC Performs duties and functions as a primary point of contact for the dissemination of information related to VHA's efforts to prevent Veteran suicide to internal and external stakeholders including VISN and VAMC staff, federal, state and community agencies as well as the public by developing and implementing a comprehensive suicide prevention communications plan to support community coalition development for local suicide prevention efforts.
To communicate effectively with stakeholders the CEPC researches communication requirements to determine the nature of the audience and other special considerations to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalition building.
As well as developing and/or coordinating graphics requirements, including databases, tables and spreadsheets to complement communications materials.
The CEPC will work with the Public Affairs Officer, VHA Communications and external VA partners to plan, develop and disseminate suicide prevention outreach communications to enhance the work of community coalitions. This will include developing and providing suicide prevention related media/marketing, including interviews (print or broadcast), social media postings, and communication campaigns (Paid/PSAs).
The CEPC will also disseminates program evaluation and surveillance data related to suicide prevention with community partners to internal and external stakeholders in conjunction with the clinical arm of SP 2.0.
Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Social Science Program Special /PD03026O
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
- Citizenship: Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
- Education and experience: The candidate must meet at least one of the requirements below:
- (1)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree must be in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR,
- (2)Two years of specialized experience as a first responder (e.g., Police, Medic,Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Dispatch, etc.) or in a social science related field that included behavioral health crisis response, and two years of higher education (i.e., above the high school level) from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR,
- (3)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or universityin any field and, one year of specialized experience that included behavioral healthcrisis response or mental health counseling.
- c.Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series, orin another occupational series, who perform the duties as described in the qualificationstandard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held,including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of thebasic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basicrequirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to theposition at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- (1)Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may bereassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
- (2)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may bereassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demotedwithin the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level orplaced in supervisory or managerial positions.
- (3)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only athigher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirementbefore they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
- (4)Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of thequalification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or bereappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basicrequirements of the standard.
- (5)Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
- NOTE: Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
- English Language Proficiency: Social Science Specialists (Crisis Responders) must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level.
Supervisory Social Science Specialist, GS-12
- (1)Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of experience comparable to the GS-11 grade level.
- (2)Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, difficulty, and a range of variety that the incumbent must perform at least 25% of the time. Employees at the GS-12 level provide direct supervision to Social Science Specialists (Crisis Responders). Supervisors provide oversight for evidence-based paraprofessional skilled intervention services, trainers, and silent monitors. Supervisors must possess clinical expertise to serve as a consultant to other Crisis Responder supervisors and any other staff assigned to the VCL. They troubleshoot and solve any unique problems or challenges that occur while connecting Veterans to the appropriate level of care. Supervisors resolve work problems presented by staff and recommends or implements methods to improve production/quality of work in the unit. Supervisors provide subordinates with performance requirements and expectations. They track and evaluate progress providing feedback to the Crisis Responder. Supervisory responsibilities include making recommendations for employee promotions or reassignments; approving leave requests; addressing leave issues; and taking disciplinary action in accordance with established policy and negotiated labor agreements. Supervisors assign work to be accomplished by subordinates. Supervisors manage stressful, complex, or emergent situations that may arise within the workplace. Supervisors assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure efficient and safe operation of the VCL. Supervisors ensure policies, training, and clinical procedures of the VCL are up to date and consistent with crisis intervention practice, clinical practice, and effective coordination of care. Supervisors communicate business goals, procedures, and quality standards and provides leadership with guidance regarding clinical standards, training, policy development, and data analysis. Supervisors identify career development and training needs of employees. Supervisors promote an environment that encourages staff well-being. After an emotionally charged contact, the supervisor supports staff to ensure the Crisis Responder managed the situation in an appropriate manner, including post event review.
- (3)Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- (a)Knowledge and skill in management/administration, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiations, and monitoring.
- (b)Ability to write policies, procedures, and or/practice guidelines.
- (c)Ability to effectively interact with individuals and groups with cultural differences to problem-solve and negotiate complex issues and obtain cooperation.
- (d)Ability to provide training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of practice.
- (e)Skill in developing interpersonal relationships including the ability to address the unique needs of Crisis Responders. This includes the provision of postvention as professionally indicated.
- (f)Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and make recommendations for change, as appropriate.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
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.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12544605.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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