[Hiring] Supervisory Social Science Specialist (Crisis Responder) @Office of Suicide Prevention, Veterans Crisis Line

Role Description

The employee will serve as the Supervisory Social Science Specialist (Crisis Responder), located in the Crisis Operations Department, Veteran's Crisis Line (VCL), Veteran's Affair (VA). The VCL is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year service aimed at connecting callers worldwide to a caring, qualified Veterans Administration employee. The VCL's mission is to provide 24/7, world-class suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to Veterans, Service Members and their family members.

• Resolves work problems presented by staff and recommends or implements methods to improve production/quality of work in the unit.
• Provides subordinates with performance requirements and expectations.
• Tracks and evaluates progress providing feedback to the Crisis Responder.
• Makes recommendations for employee promotions or reassignments; approving leave requests; addressing leave issues; and taking disciplinary action in accordance with established policy and negotiated labor agreements.
• Assigns work to be accomplished by subordinates.
• Assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure efficient and safe operation of the VCL.
• Ensures policies, training, and clinical procedures of the VCL are up to date and consistent with crisis intervention practice, clinical practice, and effective coordination of care.
• Completes structured diagnostic which require knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic categories and medical record reviews.
• Works collaboratively with other members of VCL to identify appropriate services to patients in crisis.
• Communicates business goals, procedures, and quality standards and provides leadership with guidance regarding training, policy development, and data analysis.
• Coordinates with team members to initiate emergency services or create facility transportation plans as appropriate.
• Performs difficult and complicated reviews and analysis of complex issues, ambiguous situations and ethical conflicts.
• Supervisory Crisis Responder must be able to pass their Interrater Reliability (IRR) Training course.

Qualifications

• 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience:
  • Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher 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, 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 from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field;
  • OR, 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.
• Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Requirements

• Experience comparable to the GS-11 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Knowledge and skill in management/administration, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiations, and monitoring.
  • Ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines.
  • Ability to effectively interact with individuals and groups with cultural differences to problem-solve and negotiate complex issues and obtain cooperation.
  • Ability to provide training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of practice.
  • Skill in developing interpersonal relationships including the ability to address the unique needs of Crisis Responders.
  • Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and make recommendations for change, as appropriate.

Benefits

• Varied work schedule to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays to provide 24/7 call center coverage.
• This is a remote position. Selectees will work 100% of the time in a non-VA-owned space.
• Remote employees are expected to provide a secure, distraction-free home-based worksite with reliable high-speed internet connectivity.
• Travel to the closest VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic for issuance of equipment, and as needed for technical support.

Physical Requirements

The work is performed in an office setting. The position requires some standing, bending and carrying items such as training materials. The incumbent will be supplied with and required to wear an officially approved uniform during all VCL special events.