Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Applications will be accepted from current, permanent, employees of the Tomah, WI, VA Medical Center, and its outreach facilities including VCS and CBOCs.

Videos

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) serves as a content matter expert for suicide prevention 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 state and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level. The CEPC is a subject matter expert (SME) in state and local community suicide prevention resources and education connections. The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention. The CEPC is responsible for developing, facilitating, and strengthening suicide prevention coalitions in the community. The CEPC will connect with 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 provide education on suicide prevention related topics and services. The incumbent serves as a SME, supporting coalitions by providing new or existing education and outreach initiatives on behalf of the assigned VA.
Main Duties:
-Demonstrates effective public speaking skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a variety of audiences.
-Fosters strong collaborative relations 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.
-Disseminates relevant research findings through practice, education, and consultation with non-VA community partners as well as other VA health care professionals and administrators.
-Performs statistical reporting, evaluation, consultation, and collaboration with non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community partners as well as other VA health care professionals and administrators.
-Works with the SP 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.
-Develops materials and training programs, in coordination with the SP team members, other facility and VISN stakeholders, and the National OMHSP office/MIRECC for staff and external stakeholders regarding suicide prevention in VHA and the facility.
-Collaborates in the development and delivery of education and outreach services that encompasses under-served 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 member of facility SP committee.
-Develops and maintains content expertise in SP through peer review, 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.
-Disseminates relevant research findings through practice, education, and consultation.
-Effectively participates in organization's interdisciplinary approach for performance improvement strategies consisting of general administrative policies, management, and organizational theories.
-Responsible for creating or strengthening new and existing community partnerships aimed at reducing Veteran suicide.-Ensures the community is informed on services offered by Veteran's Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration.
-Works to create partnerships in their communities at the state and local level.
-Utilize multimedia campaign materials (e.g., printed articles, brochures, videos) to educate and engage target audiences.
-Grows community network of unique stakeholders through actively engaging a variety of venues and audiences.
-Seeks out opportunities to broaden the network of outreach to the Veteran population to achieve optimum saturation in the catchment area.
-Develops and maintains current content expertise on Veteran suicide prevention.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: AD-HOC - VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, all applicants must meet the basic requirements within 15 calendar days following the closing date of this announcement.

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 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met:

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12
Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and 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:

• 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Much of the work occurs within a typical office setting, either individually or in meeting with others, or in meeting rooms. Requires time to be spent walking to the mental health buildings with time spent on psychiatric units involved with nursing or other staff in activities typical of a health care center. There may be occasional risk of physical harm, which requires special precautions and training which will include PMDB (Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior). The incumbent may be exposed to infectious diseases and medical/psychiatric emergencies. Tele-mental health services are conducted with patient or clinician at remote site via video-conference equipment.

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.