CMHS JOB OPPORTUNITIES SOON AVAILABLE - CONSUMERS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Subject: CMHS JOB OPPORTUNITIES SOON AVAILABLE - CONSUMERS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
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CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News December 20, 2006 Vol. 06-130>> _________________________________________________________>>>>
CMHS Job Opportunities Soon Available - Consumers Encouraged to Apply>>>>
In the near future, the Community Support Programs Branch of the SAMHSA>>
Center for Mental Health Services will be posting a job announcement for>>
up to two Public Health Advisor position(s). Among other candidates, we>>
would very much like to consider mental health consumers for these>> positions.>>>>
A special hiring authority, called Schedule A, allows the Federal>> government to hire people with psychiatric disabilities on a>> non-competitive basis. Although the position will be open for>> competition, the Schedule A provisions make it easier for us to consider>> qualified consumers for the position.>>>> To help prepare consumers to apply for the upcoming position, we are>> providing the following information about how to apply under the Schedule>> A authority. Please save this notice so that you can refer readily to it>> when the announcement is released.>>>> We look forward to announcing the positions not long after the beginning>> of the New Year, and to receiving a lot of great applications (through our>> human resources coordinator) in response.>> __________________________________________________________>>>> Submitting an application>>>> You will have to submit your resume through the on-line system at>> www.usajobs.opm.gov. To prepare to apply, you may want to create an>> account on this website now. Doing so will allow you to receive automated>> job alerts and to post your resume online so that you have it ready to>> submit easily once the announcement is released.>>>> During the application process, be sure to indicate that you ARE eligible>> for "noncompetitive appointment," appointment under "Schedule A,">> "excepted service appointment," or appointment under "5CFR213.3120(u)">> whenever asked. This will ensure that we can use the simplified>> procedures for hiring you.>>>> Preparing your application>>>> Be sure to write "Eligible for excepted service appointment under 5 CFR>> 213.3102(u)" on the resume that you submit.>>>> You must meet all required qualifications for the position in order to be>> hired. Applications are pre-screened by personnel officers unfamiliar>> with variations in terminology used by the field. They must be able to>> tell from your application that you meet the minimal required>> qualifications in order to pass your name on to us for possible hiring.>> Therefore, in preparing your application, be careful to use the same words>> used in the vacancy announcement to describe your qualifications. For>> example, if the vacancy announcement asks about your experience in working>> with people with mental illnesses, be sure to use the phrase "people with>> mental illnesses" in your response, rather than just discussing, for>> example, your work with "children with serious emotional disturbances"-the>> personnel officer might not realize that the latter counts toward the>> qualification.>>>> Providing "proof of disability" documentation and "certification of job>> readiness">>>> Proof of the disability and certification of job readiness are required>> for excepted service appointments of persons with psychiatric>> disabilities. The following is a list of some examples of documents that>> you can submit as proof of psychiatric disability:>>>> - Statements or letters on a licensed physician's/medical professional's>> letterhead stationary.>> - Statements, records or letters from a Federal Government agency that>> issues or provides disability benefits (e.g., the Social Security>> Administration).>> - Statements, records or letters from a State Vocational Rehabilitation>> Agency counselor.>> - Certification from a licensed private Vocational Rehabilitation or other>> Counselor that issues or provides disability benefits.>> - Certification, statements, records or letters from a State agency, or>> agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or>> provides disability benefits.>>>> Certification of job readiness is a determination that applicants with>> disabilities are likely to succeed in the performance of the duties of the>> position he or she is seeking. The same entities who may provide proof of>> disability may also certify an individual's job readiness.>>>> For more information about Schedule A and other "excepted service" or>> "non-competitive" appointments>>>> Much of the information presented here is paraphrased from information>> presented on two sections of the Federal Office of Personnel Management>> website. You can go directly to these sections through the following>> links:>>>> http://www.opm.gov/Strategic_Management_of_Human_Capital/fhfrc/FLX05020.asp#itemA1>>>> http://www.opm.gov/disability/hrpro_3-02.asp>>>> If you don't want to go through this process, you can still apply like>> anybody else. However, we will not be able to use the special hiring>> authority that would make it easier for us to hire you.>>> >