Duties

This position provides full range of psychodiagnostic services including assessment, and using the most appropriate, evidence-based psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care in the delivery of a full range of psychological and multidisciplinary services in the Trauma Recovery Program (TRP), primarily at the Baltimore facility and at other VAMHCS locations as required.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides evidence-based therapies to Veterans with PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) including but not limited to Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Written Exposure Therapy (WET) and concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorder Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE).
• Works in the TRP delivering specialty services for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related trauma-spectrum disorders, participates in interdisciplinary team dispositions of patients within the TRP, and provides consultation services to medical center and CBOC staff on a wide variety of patient care issues, particularly related to identifying PTSD concerns and related needs of Veterans from all eras of service.
• Provide ethical individual and group mental health services to eligible combat and non-combat Veterans (wartime service members including Veterans from all combat zones and non-combat service members with military sexual trauma, other traumas incurred during military service, or childhood traumas).
• Responsible for screening all applicants to the PCT program and will oversee all team and treatment planning meetings and keeping administrative minutes of all team meetings.
• Maintain referrals to the PCT program in the TRP database, using Consult Tracking Manager, and will perform monthly chart audits to determine PCT team member compliance with VAMHCS documentation standards and clinical management of Veterans.
• Help monitor compliance with treatment planning standards and will assist PCT team members in both training and execution of any relevant VAMHCS patient care policies and procedures.
• Oversees continual survey readiness in preparation for Joint Commission, OIG, or other administrative reviews.
• May participate in monthly TRP chart reviews, compile resulting data, and submit data to the TRP Manager.

Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Social Worker (Program Coordinator)/ FS #000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).

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: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education: Must 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 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.

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: 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.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

Preferred Experience: Experience using evidence based therapies in the treatment of PTSD.

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, dated September 10, 2019.

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

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day); Standing (up to 8 hours per day); Infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

Education

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 .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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 .