Senior Social Worker - Suicide Prevention Program

Senior Social Worker

This Senior Social Worker acts as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) for the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Mental Health Service. SPC facilitates the implementation of suicide prevention strategies at a local level through education, monitoring, and coordination activities. The SPC functions as a coordinator for care of veterans at suicide risk and an advisor to Mental Health Leadership, facility leadership, program managers, and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies for individual patients.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for tracking and reporting all suicide attempts and completions at their facility, including the submission of a monthly report to the National Suicide Prevention Coordinator.
• Controls the Category I Patient Record Flag as it relates to suicide and limits its use to patients who meet the criteria of being placed on the facility high risk list.
• Responsible for the input of information into the National database on all suicides via the Behavioral Health Autopsy Program and Behavioral Health Autopsy Program- Family Interview Protocol.
• Responsible for outreach to promote awareness of veteran suicide risk and educate the community regarding recognizing suicide risk among veteran population and how to assist veterans and their families in accessing available resources for support and care.
• Program Development and dissemination of new trainings, tools and outreach materials to promote continued performance improvement, such as Evidenced Based Interventions; SharePoint; Provider resources and tools.
• Provides general consultation to providers concerning resources for suicidal individuals, as well as expertise and direction in the areas of system design to prevent suicidal deaths within the medical facility.

B. Patient, Stakeholders, and Staff Education

• Serves as a resource for both the VA facility and community related to Veteran suicide and suicide prevention issues.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies.
• Attends all assigned meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Mental Health staff meetings, committees, etc.).
• Develops, populates and maintains any technical tools necessary for monitoring, tracking and reporting status to the Suicide Prevention Program Manager.
• Responsible for staff and patient education during Suicide Awareness Week. Educational activities may include displays and exhibits regarding suicide prevention. In addition, educational activities may provide information about the VA National Mental Health Crisis/Suicide Hotline discussion, and other support services available.
• Collaborates in the performance improvement processes and complies with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program.
• Participates in activities that obtain feedback from veterans and care providers to enhance services.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday - subject to change based upon the needs of the facility.

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

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 667-00076-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized