Suicide Prevention Coordinators serve as facility subject matter experts on risk assessment and implementation of suicide risk mitigation strategies in all areas of the facility in addition to providing care coordination, case consultation, and intervention to a High Risk for Suicide patient population. 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: Master's degree in social work (MSW) 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 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 master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to the CSWE website (www.cswe.org) to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree levels. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience/Education: The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Knowledge, Skills And Abilities: In addition to the experience and education listed above, candidates must be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities listed in the job announcement: a) Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. (d) Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. (e) Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Experience in Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Training, assessments and public speaking. References: VHA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 dated September 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (15 lbs. and under); Light Carrying (15 lbs. and under); Both hands required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing (aid permitted); emotional and mental stability. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 15, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assuring that all Veterans assigned to the facility high risk monitoring list are being followed for a time period not less than 90 days following hospitalization, or 90 days from the date of assignment to the high risk list. Contacting and collaborating with the Veteran's primary mental health providers to coordinate monitoring activities, track appointments, and coordinate enhanced care as needed. Responding to consults from the Veterans Crisis Line. Assisting with REACH VET program coordination and case management. Providing outreach and education to community resources such as VSO's and other community groups to assure that they are aware of how to recognize Veterans at risk for suicide and their options for getting these Veterans assistance. Assisting with provision of on-going training (SAVE) for new employees and non-clinical frontline staff as needed to assure that they are aware of options for patients with whom they come in contact during crisis situations. Timely and accurate documentation, using appropriate notes and templates as defined within the facility Suicide Prevention Program as well as Mental Health Service. Management of time sensitive program requirements in the context of exceeding performance metrics. Active participation in process improvement and program evaluation. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Available to highly qualified applicants on an AD-HOC basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F00816 Social Worker - Suicide Prevention Coordinator Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified candidates. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
