Duties
The incumbent performs both clinical and administrative responsibilities independently but may seek consultation and/or peer supervision as needed. The MST Coordinator is known throughout the facility as the designated point of contact, local subject matter expert, and problem solver in the area of MST.
- Ensures that MST screening is being conducted properly, and that Veterans who screen positive and are interested in treatment are referred and connected with appropriate services in a timely manner in a gender-sensitive manner. This also includes the responsibility to provide an initial response to all MST consults submitted.
- As a Licensed Independent Provider with clinical privileges in the station, provides care management, same day and scheduled, time limited mental health interventions and psychotherapy to Veterans, face to face and/ or virtually, in individual or group modalities.
- Through assessment of needs and in collaboration team, the social worker will assure linkage to appropriate level or care and to resources.
- Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission, short term/or long term placements including involuntary treatment when necessary. Incumbent maintains resource directories (within VA and Community) to meet the demands of a crisis.
- Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member.
- Supporting the implementation of national and VISN-level policies related to MST at the facility and associated CBOCs. The MST Coordinator is the primary designee of the medical facility Director for monitoring and coordinating implementation of the Director's MST-related administrative responsibilities.
- Coordinating with facility business offices and clinical service/care lines to ensure Veterans are not being charged for MST-related care, and that Veterans eligible for MST care only are able to access the appropriate services.
- Collaborates with leadership to develop a process/policy for evaluating facility MST-related services, to ensure there is adequate capacity to serve the treatment needs of the local MST survivor population and that services are of high quality.
- Is familiar with (and ideally certified) in provision of: Evidence Based Psychotherapies (EBP) used in the treatment of conditions resulting from MST (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
- Has the ability to foster and maintain ongoing collaborations with a variety of departmental, federal and state government, and community organizations. Examples include, but are not limited to, the local VBA Regional Office, Veterans Service Officers, State Veterans Affairs Office, and National Guard and Reserve units.
- The MST Coordinator plans, directs, and conducts periodic outreach efforts to Veterans, both within the facility and in partnership with community allies, with the goal of raising awareness about VA's MST-related services and how to access them.
- Makes presentations to VA partners (e.g., local Vet Centers or VBA Regional Office), federal and state government (e.g., local military units), and community groups (e.g., medical schools, universities, Veteran Service Organizations, hospitals) as requested (and with facility Public Affairs Officer approval when needed).
- Directing and providing staff education to improve MST-related care and services. Provides training specific to MST screening, including how to complete the MST Clinical Reminder, for relevant service/care lines, such as primary care.
- Responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. The social worker will refer the veteran to needed services.
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am-4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
EDRP Authorized: Not authorized
Additional Benefits
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)
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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)
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
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.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- 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.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- 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
Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 10/29/2024
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 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 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/.
- 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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
GS-12 Social Worker Program Coordinator candidates must have the following:
- Experience/Education: Applicants applying at the GS-12 grade level must have 1 year of experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Program Coordinator social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. They 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. Training or additional certs must be submitted with application.
AND
- Licensure/Certification: At this grade level, 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. Advanced License must be submitted with application.
References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard, dated 9/10/19.
Selective Placement Factor (SPF): This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume.
The SPF for this position is: In addition to the English Language Proficiency, you must also be proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish in order to perform the duties of this position. However, your documents must be submitted in English.
While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position.
Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. These are the KSA's for this position and grade level:
- Knowledge of program coordination and administration, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring
- Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program
- Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.
- Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s)
- Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice
Preferred experience:
- Specialized knowledge obtained through education or experience in evidenced-based psychotherapies used in the treatment of conditions resulting from MST (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
- Has an extensive knowledge of facility and local community resources for Veterans. Knowledgeable in the procedures involved in coordinating referrals to various appropriate services for Veteran patients.
- Ability to effectively explain complex clinical and policy information, both to fellow specialists and to laypersons from diverse groups. Exceptional time management skills; able to make use of available time and resources and to prioritize tasks.
Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. The work may also require assisting physically disabled Veterans. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects, such as medical records They 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. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common to the homeless population. Much of the work is performed in a setting away from the office, where the environment cannot be controlled.
The incumbent must be able to safely operate a government owned vehicle to be utilized in community-based work.
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 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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.
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.
Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. All other applicants/public.
Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies but will be applied to all other applicants.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Advanced Licensure
- Resume
- Transcript
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 ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- Advanced Licensure
- CPTSPR active membership certification
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
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 full 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 10/29/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12581914.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS 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 Details 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.
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.