Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Summary

The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the local level through education, monitoring and coordination activities. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the care for Veterans who are at a heightened risk for suicide and tracks those Veterans who have attempted suicide.

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Duties

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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

VA Careers - Social Work :

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) is responsible for the provision of individual case management and clinical services for veterans deemed to be at high risk for suicidal behavior. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator serves to coordinate and monitor services for Veterans designated as high risk for suicide and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients. The determination of risk level is based on clinical evaluation and assessment of the Veteran by an appropriate mental health provider.
• The Suicide Prevention Coordinator is responsible for coordinating care of high-risk Veterans who receive care throughout the Medical Center, CBOCs, Veteran Resource and Readjustment Counseling Centers (Vet Centers), and community agencies.
• The SPC works collaboratively with other treatment team members, professionals, para- professionals, and others at the Medical Center and community agencies to assist the Veterans in managing their mental health problems, psychosocial needs, and identifying barriers to receiving continued treatment and mitigating risk factors related to suicide.
• Tracking all suicide attempts and patients with serious suicide ideation through the use of the "Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report."
• Provides comprehensive case management by ensuring all Veterans identified as high risk for suicide receive follow up mental health care as required, coordinating services as needed.
• Conducting individual and group counseling through Video Connect, Face to Face and/or Telephone appointments for Veterans identified as High Risk for Suicide.
• Maintaining a tracking list of high-risk veterans to ensure timely contacts are made as specified within the memorandum from the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health and the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management outlining Suicide Prevention Program responsibilities.
• Provides crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments and safety plans for Veterans via phone and in person.
• Coordinating with mental health staff and primary care staff through ongoing communication to ensure that necessary components in the veteran's care plan are addressed in light of suicide risk, to include a suicide risk assessment and safety plan. Ensures the required frequency of mental health appointments are arranged for Veterans identified as high risk through this ongoing communication.
• Completes behavioral health autopsies, Issue Briefs and Heads Up notifications as required by the National Suicide Prevention Program.
• Following completed suicides, provides postvention services to both surviving family members and VA staff involved in the affected Veteran's care.
• Participation and provision of expertise on individual root cause analysis teams.
• Assuring that all Veterans on the facility tracking list are being followed closely by the appropriate provider on a regular basis as determined by the coordinator and the provider.
• Tracking any no-show appointments by these Veterans and coordinating follow up with the veteran as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. This may include collaboration with the outpatient mental health providers to ensure risk is assessed according to local directives and policy.
• If the safety of a Veteran is unable to be established, or it is determined that the Veteran is at imminent risk for self harm, initiating emergency interventions as appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, contacting the Veteran's identified emergency contact and/or 911.
• Disseminating, organizing, and where possible, conducting evidence-based and promising, emerging interventions.
• Maintaining awareness of suicide treatment options and making recommendations to the Veteran's provider when new options become available.
• Assuring that all of these Veterans have a 24-hour resource number to call and ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur.
• Assuring compliance with Joint Commission standards related to suicide prevention.
• Valid driver's license required.

Work Schedule : 08:00 to 16:30; Monday through Friday

Telework : Ad-Hoc only

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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: 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).
• Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in written and spoken English to be appointed.

Grade Determinations : Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-0185-12

(1) Experience/Education.

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. 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.

(2) 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.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.

(b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program.

(c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.

(d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).

(e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

The incumbent must possess a valid and active driver's license

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Area of Consideration-Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.

2. All other VA employees.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.