This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/488506200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
Two full-time Social Worker (Suicide Preventation Case Manager), GS-0185-11 positions are currently available in Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service. The normal tour of duty is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There may be some instances where the incumbent would be required to work after 4:30 p.m., or have the flexibility to work outside the normal tour of duty which may include weekends and holidays. Salary is determined by the Professional Standards Board based on education, qualifications, experience, and credentials. This announcement is open to all qualified U.S. citizens. More than one applicant may be hired from this announcement.
Introduction: The incumbent is responsible for coordination and monitoring of services provided to veterans designated as being at a high risk for suicide, and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients. The determination of risk level is based on clinical evaluation and assessment of a veteran by an appropriate mental health care provider. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the care of high risk patients, providing case management-based services (directly or through referral) necessary to ensure that veteran care is coordinated within the VA medical center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) and/or appropriate community agencies.
Veterans who have been determined to be at high risk for suicide may have complex health and mental health needs that require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving. Services are provided in healthcare settings and in the community.
01/12/2018 to 01/29/2018
$60,210 - $78,270 per year
GS 11
2 vacancies in the following location:
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
No
CBCQ-10116186-18-TM
488506200
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
The incumbent is responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements. The incumbent is expected to follow Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) guidelines with regards to management of patients at high risk for suicide. This includes data entry into the Suicide Prevention application Network ( SPAN).
The incumbent works closely with the VA medical center's mental health programs, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's), homeless programs, residential and community care programs, and domiciliary programs to ensure that coordination between these entities is facilitated and veterans direct care, referral, and follow up is contiguous and based on a continuum of services. The incumbent independently provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level for eligible veterans and their family members in the program.
The incumbent interviews veterans, families, and other significant contacts. The incumbent uses interviews to establish facts about the veteran's condition, the environment, available support, eligibility, and impact of circumstances on the veteran and recommends or makes referral to appropriate program(s) or directs veteran to appropriate community resources.
The incumbent conducts suicide risk assessments with veterans which involve identification of known suicide risk factors, warning signs, psychosocial stressors, and protective factors. Based on information gathered through suicide risk assessment, the incumbent makes clinical judgments regarding level of assessed suicide risk and determines appropriate plan of care that is consistent with the level of assessed risk.
The incumbent provides counseling to the patient, caregiver(s), family members, and/or significant others assisting them in coping with the psychosocial stress related to illness and other stressors. The incumbent provides clinical/therapeutic intervention and individual or family counseling. Using known resources, the incumbent makes initial and continuing decisions coordinating the veteran's care through linking and referral to VA medical facilities or Regional Offices and other VA and non-VA services and provides independent consultation and makes recommendation to the interdisciplinary team on course of action.
The incumbent assures that all veterans assigned to the facility high risk monitoring list are being followed for a time period not less than 90 days following hospitalization, or 90 days from the date of assignment to the high risk list. During the high risk monitoring period, the incumbent is responsible for conducting face to face and/or telephone contact with the veteran to assess their safety and ongoing compliance with treatment. The incumbent tracks any no-show appointments by high risk patients and follows up with the patient as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment.
The incumbent assures that all high risk patients have completed a Safety Plan which documents crisis intervention strategies the veteran can use to remain safe. With the patient's consent, the incumbent contacts family members and/or other identified supports to provide education and involve in the patient's treatment and safety planning. Safety Plans are completed by the veteran in conjunction with his/her primary therapist or case manager, or an inpatient treatment team. The Safety Plan will include ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur, and the veteran will be provided a copy of the safety plan.
Incumbent is responsible for contacting the primary therapist for veterans identified as being high risk for suicide to coordinate monitoring activities, tracking appointments and coordinating enhanced care as needed. The incumbent maintains awareness of suicide treatment options and makes recommendations to the patient's provider when new options become available.
The incumbent assists Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) with provision of on-going Guide Training program (Operation SAVE) or other suicide prevention awareness training with clinical and non-clinical frontline staff such as clerks and telephone operators to assure that they are aware of options for patients with whom they come in contact during crisis situations. The incumbent, along with SPC, conduct outreach to community resources such as Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's) and other community groups to assure that they are aware of how to recognize veterans at risk for suicide and their options for getting these veterans assistance.
Performs other directly-related duties as assigned.
None
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
United States Citizenship Required; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
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.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
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.
NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
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.
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 01/29/2018 to receive consideration.
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.
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The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/488506200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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