Social Worker-Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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: Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Education and/or Experience Combination -You must possess 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.

Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work.

License or Certification - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

Grandfather Provision: A Social Worker employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (9/10/2019) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-12 Social Worker (Program Coordinator) Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Experience Requirement: You must possess 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.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 include, but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills; maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver; independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, identifying the patient's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity.

In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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 in dealing with Veterans experiencing mental health concerns.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.

Physical Requirements: No special physical qualifications are required to perform the work. The work requires the ability to move around the office and facility.

May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.

Requires carrying brochures and promotional items to outreach events and trainings. Some travel is required to visit CBOCs and participate in community outreach events throughout the catchment area.

The work can be mentally and psychologically demanding and stressful, and the ability to utilize effective coping and self-care strategies is essential.

This position requires driving/riding in a GSA vehicle to/from various locations. Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) will serve to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies within the medical center to help ensure that all appropriate measures are being taken to prevent suicide in our patient population.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Support for the identification of Veterans at high risk; coordinating enhanced care when needed.

Overseeing daily operation of the Suicide Prevention Program.

Provide clinical services in serious and complicated cases and carries full professional responsibility for those cases presenting with a wide range of psychosocial and environmental problems.

Clinical services are provided as time and resources allow; administrative programmatic responsibilities are primary.

Responsible for preparation of clinical, administrative and evaluative records, reports and correspondence; responsible for assuring that services meet accreditation standards established by Joint Commission in accordance with VA Quality Management.

Policy and procedure development that is in alignment with national policy. Ensures clinical practice guidelines are followed, makes recommendations to clinicians based on guidelines.

Tracks performance metrics by reviewing High Risk Flag databases and Post Discharge Engagement databases and other metrics on a regular basis to ensure that performance requirements are met (to include high risk flag timeframes and post discharge engagement requirements).

Participating in Root Cause Analyses.

Review the Suicide Risk Identification Process Fall-outs database on a daily basis and initiates corrective actions when the proper screening and assessments were not completed.

Completes Behavioral Health Autopsies and suicide related issue briefs, as necessary, following Veteran suicides.

Serves as the primary point of contact for the Vet Center and Homeless Care Team; coordinates monthly meetings for each to review joint patients. Attends committee/workgroup meetings, as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact visn5hredrpcoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more 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: Ad-Hoc only as determined by agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized