Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - Suicide Prevention

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees.

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

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. The SPC also functions as an advisor to the Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Director of Mental Health and Behavioral Health, Social Work Service, facility leadership, program managers, and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies at the individual patient level, and for the facility and Veteran's community as a whole.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• 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.
• The SPC plans, develops, implements, and oversees all components of the facility's Suicide Prevention Program.
• Tracking all suicide attempts, deaths and preparatory behavior through the use of the Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report.
• Provide 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.
• Provides crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments and safety planning for Veterans via telephone, VVC or face-to-face.
• Complete behavioral health autopsies, issue briefs and heads up notifications as required by the office of suicide prevention.
• Disseminating, organizing, and where possible, conducting evidence-based and promising, emerging interventions for suicide prevention.
• Assures that all Veterans have a 24-hour resource number to call for assistance in a crisis.
• Works with community resources such as Veteran service organizations 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.
• Responds to suicide prevention hotline/988 requests, interfacility consults and phone inquiries from VA staff and community stakeholders to address needs of at-risk Veterans.
• Participates in monthly outreach events in the community. Many of these events occur on holidays, weekends and evenings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Ad Hoc Emergency Telework MAY BE Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.
• Must posses a valid state issued driver's license.
• 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

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. 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/.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services
• 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.

Preferred Experience: Prior experience working in crisis management and/or Suicide Prevention Preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

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 driver's license and will operate gas powered/electric passenger vehicles in order to provide Veteran care in the community. Will drive in all types of weather and may be subjected to driving in all types of traffic. Must possess the ability to operate and perform preventive maintenance. Be able to respond to emergency situations when on the road (traffic accident, damage to property, damage to equipment, injury to self or someone else, vehicle breakdown). They must perform operator level maintenance of vehicles that includes, but is not limited to, getting gas, monitoring fluid levels, washing the vehicle, checking tire pressure, interior and exterior lights, and documenting any damage or unusual wear on the vehicle or its components. Incumbent is expected to travel to the Northwest Metro CBOC in Ramsey, MN as needed with a planned expectation of 2-3 days per week.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• RECOMMENDED: Responses to Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Can Be Found Under the Qualification Section of the Job Opportunity Announcement
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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