Clarification from the agency

This is a public announcement and is open to all U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees. If you are a current permanent employee of the Veterans Crisis Line or current permanent VA Nationwide employee, you should apply under the internal announcement number CBET-11013848-21-JDB.

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Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Makes outgoing calls to Veterans if a Veteran has sent an email or letter to the White House, or some other government agency;
• Keeping a caller, texter, or chatter engaged while multi-tasking to document work, look up resources, and instant message for assistance when needed;
• 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.

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 a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Selectees must be within a commutable distance, or willing to relocate within a commutable distance to the duty location
• Required 7 weeks of mandatory training where employees will not be able to request any time off work
• Crisis Responders are expected to work irregular hours including days, evening, nights, weekends and holidays
• Crisis Responders regularly encounter people experiencing extreme poverty, personal hardship, and those who are hostile or distressed

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/11/2021.

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: Social Science Specialists (Crisis Responders) must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience: Applicants 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 university in any field and, one year of specialized experience that included behavioral health crisis response or mental health counseling.

1. Experience or Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below.
   • Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; OR
   • Education. Ph.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, or family counseling).
2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
   • Ability to provide an evidenced based crisis intervention through a variety of modalities (e.g., telephone interviews, chat/text services, or social media forums).
   • Ability to carry out crisis management steps while withholding judgment on controversial behaviors and not imposing one's values during the contact.
   • Ability to effectively prioritize complex problems quickly and respond appropriately in a crisis situation.

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, résumé, 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.