Summary

The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) serves as a GS-12 Social Work Program Coordinator located in the Mental Health Service line at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. This position is based in an outpatient mental health setting. The GS-12 Social Work Program Coordinator practices independently at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practice related to Veterans at high risk for suicide.

Qualifications

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 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: 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.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: Implement Suicide prevention program (SPP) in accordance with Directives
• Use all available resources and information from VA health care providers and community resources - which must include county and/or State medical examiners or coroners - to identify all Veterans who die by suicide
• Utilize SPP national data systems - surveillance - and reports of suicide related events to facilitate monthly reporting to local mental health leadership and quality management
• Track and report all suicide prevention outreach activities completed
• Establishing - tracking - monitoring - and maintaining the High Risk for Suicide - Patient Record Flag (HRSPRF) in accordance with the requirements set forth in VHA Directive
• Ensure suicidal self-directed violence behaviors - including attempts - interrupted attempts - preparatory behaviors - deaths - and all self directed violence behavior events of undetermined suicidal intent are reported and documented in the EHR in accordance with the guidelines within the Rocky Mountain MIRECC Self-Directed Violence Classification System developed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control
• Complete required forms following the notice of a Veteran's death by suicide
• Complete various reports on suicide deaths and attempts - as required by policy or requested by facility - VISN - or national leadership
• Ensure patients identified as high risk of suicide have access to enhanced care services in accordance with the CPG - SPPG and the Suicide Risk Identification and Management process
• Consult and assist VA health care providers with formulation of suicide risk and care coordination
• Manage care of patients with an HRS-PRF through coordination and collaboration with VA health care providers in accordance with VHA Patient Record Flag directives
• Support and assist Veterans - caregivers - and families with suicide prevention - intervention - and postvention
• Seek referrals and gather information from VA health care providers - chaplains - and community resources concerning Veterans who have been determined to be at high risk for suicide - or those who have exhibited suicidal self-directed violence behaviors - i.e
• suicide attempts and preparatory behaviors
• Respond to referrals from the VCL and other health care providers or community sources
• Engage with communities and organizations to outreach Veterans and their families to improve the care coordination and suicide prevention
• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 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 #: 94346-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized