This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website http:\\www.cswe.gorg/Accreditation to verify if that 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-185 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 judgement. 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 examinations, 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, the candidate 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. Preferred Experience: Experience with community engagement especially with military/veteran populations, and experience with nonprofits and coalitions. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15lbs; Light carrying, under 15lbs; Walking (3hrs); Standing (6-8hrs); Repeated bending (2hrs); Climbing legs only (1hr); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); Clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty; sitting for long time periods. Protracted or irregular hours of work. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU FUNCTIONS: Develops, facilitates, and strengthens Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention at the community, state, and VISN levels. Connects VA programs and stakeholders-including, but not limited to, Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, Congressional staff, media, community business partners, and community members throughout the health care system and VISN catchment areas-to conduct community-based interventions and provide outreach and education on suicide prevention related topics and services. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in public health and suicide prevention, supporting partnerships and coalitions by providing new or existing community education and outreach initiatives on behalf of the assigned VA Health Care facility and the surrounding catchment area 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. Develops VHA-community partnerships - meet with prospective community partners and/or establish formal relationships between the VHA and local partners to facilitate suicide prevention in the community Develops and provides suicide prevention related media/marketing, including interviews (print or broadcast), social media postings, and communication campaigns (Paid/PSAs). Provides a variety of suicide prevention trainings including but not limited to a focus on training in Lethal Means Safety, Mental Health Apps (Hope Box, PTSD, etc.), Military Culture, Other Gatekeeper Training (QPR, ASSIST), Postvention, Safety Planning, S.A.V.E., Suicide Risk Evaluation, Whole Health/Wellness; Hosts Outreach Awareness Tables on suicide prevention at community events Leads meetings with prospective and existing community stakeholder(s) focused on Veteran suicide prevention Provides leadership for coalition management -- leads alignment of community coalition goals with VA goals, collaborates with non-VA coalition leaders (remote or in person), attends coalition meetings (general) and coalition subcommittee meetings, manages and attends coalition sponsored events/public meetings, conducts and/or supports coalition evaluation activities (survey distribution, data collection, key informant interviews, etc.); and leads other coalition activities defined in a coalition action plan. Serves as a SME supporting coalitions and partners by developing and leading new or existing education and outreach initiatives on behalf of the assigned VA Health Care facility and the surrounding catchment area. Demonstrates effective public speaking skills and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, with a variety of audiences with a focus on suicide prevention. Provides leadership with the suicide prevention team in the development and implementation of suicide prevention educational programs and initiatives. Demonstrates strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, working with staff and stakeholders at all knowledge and proficiency levels. Demonstrates military cultural competence in collaborating with and supporting Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations in the community. Is responsible for establishing and maintaining strong relationships between the VA suicide prevention team and community-based veteran organizations and leadership Disseminates relevant research findings through practice, education, and consultation with non-VA community partners as well as other VA health care professionals and administrators. Comprehends and maintains knowledge of current VA guidelines, policies, Federal regulations, and laws governing benefits for Veterans. Disseminates program evaluation and surveillance data related to suicide prevention with community partners Closely coordinates with Suicide Prevention team members, and other facility and VISN stakeholders and the National OMHSP office to implement SP communication plans, both internal and external to the VA. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm\nTelework: Available at the discretion of the service.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 534-52115F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Please contact Jacob Towner, the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Coordinator at Jacob.Towner@va.gov. or Contact VHA EDRP Program Support at VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]