Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Suicide Prevention

Full Job Description

The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) serves as a Senior Social Worker located in the Mental Health service line at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

The Social Worker oversees the daily operation of the Suicide Prevention Program for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, associated CBOCs, and may be asked to independently support VISN, National, or other related programs.

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: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.

§ 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000.

To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: 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 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 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 master's degree level.

Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Failure to Obtain License or Certification.

In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment.

Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment.

Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience and Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade 13 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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.

Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/50, Part II, APPENDIX G39. SOCIAL WORKER QUALIFICATION STANDARD dated September 10, 2019.

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The work of the social worker is largely office based and in a sedentary setting. No manual labor is required above ordinary situations.

Incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic. Major Duties:

Duties may include but are not limited to: Ability to provide training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of practice.

Incumbent is tasked with providing continuing education programs for clinical and administrative staff related to Suicide Prevention and may track completion of programs on regular intervals.

The Suicide Prevention Coordinator independently leads educational training programs, conferences, and trainings as requested by the Mental Health Service Chief, Facility Director, VISN, or VACO.

Advanced knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.

Advanced skills and ability in conducting psychosocial assessments including assessing functioning and needs of Veterans to formulate and implement a recovery-oriented treatment plans, identifying the Veteran's problems, strengths, challenges, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the Veteran, family and interdisciplinary treatment team.

Provides advanced level psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds.

Utilizes knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

Utilizes independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving and evidence-based crisis intervention techniques.

Knowledge in the use of medical and DSM-5 mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures.

This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects, and medical and mental health terminology.

Provide psychoeducation to Veterans and their family members regarding diagnoses, symptom management and recovery from illness.

Provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on mental health care and compliance with treatment.

Provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students. Function as Field Instructor for social work graduate students who are completing VAAAHS field placements.

Participate as member of various VAAAHS committees functioning as liaison between those committees and the Mental Health Service.

The Social Worker provides analysis and evaluation of clinical program data and independently leads workgroups to improve tracked metrics and clinical outcomes.

The incumbent interpedently uses VA Reporting systems to prepare reports for facility, VISN, and National level Action Items, Workgroups, and other assignments.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available, 3+ days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 93013-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized