NOTE: These positions involve a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-9 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

These positions are located at the Veterans Crisis Line in Topeka, Kansas. The Health Science Specialist - Crisis Hotline Responder works within the National Veterans Crisis Line Program to assist in the delivery of evidenced based practice for veterans who need assistance.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Implements suicide/mental health crisis prevention strategies;
• Provides support for the identification of veterans at high risk, and coordinates enhanced care;
• Conducts interviews and utilizes assessments tools to assess emotional, functional, and/or psychological conditions;
• Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments;
• Prepares and maintains records and reports in accordance with program guidelines;
• Provides psycho-education and directs advice regarding suicide/mental illness crisis;
• Works collaboratively with other members of the VA Crisis Hotline Program to identify appropriate services for Veterans in crisis;
• Assists Veterans and their family/friend/significant other with issues regarding the Veterans' mental health issues, referrals, benefits, support groups, and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary, but requires extreme patience and controlling ones emotions.

Qualifications

NOTE: All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

All applicants must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENT: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in a major study in an academic field related to the health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a Health Science Specialist - Crisis Hotline Responder. To be appropriate to the work of the position, the program and coursework must focus heavily on psychology, mental health, counseling, and/or the provision of social services. NOTE: You must submit copies of transcripts with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation.

AND

In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS- 9 level you must also meet one of the following:
EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience (equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service) that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Health Science Specialist - Crisis Hotline Responder, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes: providing instructions and/or counseling to clients; utilizing questionnaires for interviewing patients; assessing and recognizing mental health disorders; following established procedures to conduct initial screenings of individuals by gathering social, drug, family, and military history, and reason for contact; documenting work. At this level, work may have been performed under direct supervision. OR
EDUCATION: You must have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a field related to the work of a Health Science Specialist - Crisis Hotline Responder. This education must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR
COMBINATION: You must have an equivalent combination of related graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above. This education and experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of a Health Science Specialist - Crisis Hotline Responder.

Quality Ranking Factors have been requested by the facility to help determine which of the basically qualified applicants are likely to be better qualified for a position. Quality Ranking Factors are skills, knowledge, abilities, or other worker characteristics which could be expected to result in superior performance on the job. Quality ranking factors will not be used for screening, but may be used as ranking criteria. Applicants with higher proficiency levels may rank above those with lower proficiency levels on a quality ranking factor.
* The quality ranking factors for this position is: "Experience providing supportive counseling to those actively experiencing mental health crisis situations"

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately
• Psychology: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of human behavior and performance in various contexts, mental processes, or the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, hostile individuals, emergency/dangerous situations)
• Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions
• Technology Application: uses computers and computer applications to communicate information in the appropriate format

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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The

• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.