Supervisory Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

• Assigned Duties for Mental Health: The incumbent serves as the Suicide Prevention Program Manager and Coordinator for the Durham VA Health Care System.

  The Suicide Prevention Coordinator provides public relations and community education regarding the VA the Suicide Prevention program and suicide prevention in general to various social services medical mental health legal housing and welfare organizations.

• The incumbent is responsible for fiscal management of the Suicide Prevention program which includes monitoring expenditures submission and verification of reports developing budgets and staffing plans based on need requesting appropriate FTEE funds determining solutions or resolutions to budget/staffing shortages and related fiscal/administrative problems and managing expenditures within budget.
• The incumbent interprets treatment related policies guidelines regulations directives public laws program guides etc.. and develops written procedures and instructions to assure compliance with regulations from VACO VISN the Medical Center and Joint Commission.
• The incumbent is responsible for fiscal management of the Suicide Prevention program which includes monitoring expenditures submission and verification of reports developing budgets and staffing plans based on need requesting appropriate FTEE funds determining solutions or resolutions to budget/staffing shortages and related fiscal/administrative problems and managing expenditures within budget.
• The incumbent interprets treatment related policies guidelines regulations directives public laws program guides etc.. and develops written procedures and instructions to assure compliance with regulations from VACO VISN the Medical Center and Joint Commission.
• Consults with managers colleagues and subordinates when developing knowledge and applying agency policies and practices to new and/or complex matters.
• The position is capable of practicing at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of suicide prevention.
• Individuals appointed to the GS-13 program coordinator/manager level require one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
• Candidates may have certification or other post-masters 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.
• Individuals assigned as GS-13 Social Worker Program Coordinators must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
• The incumbent possesses the ability to utilize a variety of psychiatric treatment modalities such as individual and group therapy sufficient to develop and demonstrate advance skills in applying therapeutic techniques.
• Has advanced clinical skills in Suicide Risk Assessment and Interventions.
• Has significant knowledge of research in the area of Suicidology pertaining to demographics risk factors and protective factors.
• Has detailed knowledge of co-occurring disorders such as: Substance Use Disorders Serious Mental Illness and other mental health diagnoses that present with patients at risk.
• Has the ability to constructively relate with members of an interdisciplinary team and experience working as a therapist with veterans and family members.
• The incumbent administers information and develops analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients at risk for suicide.
• All other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

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.

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 masters 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 masters degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 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 masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to 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:
  Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-masters 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.
  
  Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
  1. Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s) across the facility.
  2. Skill in local policy and practice development procedures and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
  3. Skill in organizing work setting priorities meeting multiple deadlines and evaluating assigned program area(s).
  4. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient-centered care.
  5. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff training and recommendation of awards advancements and when appropriate disciplinary action.
  6. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations
  
  Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: There are no special physical qualifications to perform the work. The work requires the ability to move around an office and/or the facility. The work is performed in offices and meeting rooms.

  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: 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:

  Additional information

  Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  
  During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
  
  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.
  
  If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
  
  Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

  Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.