Duties
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf
The Suicide Prevention Supervisor (SPS) is a very complex assignment, working in the facility and multiple communities across a large geographic area (18 counties in 3 states) to provide advocacy, training, and clinical consultation for the most vulnerable, high-risk patients.
Supervises the facility Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH-VET) program, including direct supervision of the REACH-VET Coordinator.
Works with Mental Health Leadership advising providers from diverse disciplines regarding interventions to mitigate risk for Veterans with complex mental health, substance abuse and medical risk factors.
Extensive collaboration with a range of VA and community partners including law enforcement agencies and first responders, county Medical Examiners, VA Central Office, VA Regional Counsel and VISN leadership.
Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised on the Suicide Prevention Program.
Screening/Assessment - The social worker will use advanced knowledge and mastery of theories of mental illness and specialized treatment to develop a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Treatment Planning/Goal Setting - The social worker independently develops the mental health treatment plan and recovery goals with the Veteran.
Crisis Intervention - The social worker is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for various types of crisis including housing and financial emergencies, psychiatric relapse, potential suicide, violence, and other high risk behaviors and/or situations.
Intensive Case Management/Outreach - he social worker will provide intensive case management services to assigned Veterans and significant others, consistent with the goal of the VA Mental Health Initiative, and with all relevant medical center policies and procedures.
Documentation/Productivity-The social worker will complete documentation in compliance with appropriate documentation standards.
Psychotherapy-The social worker will provide Veterans with expert level psychotherapy.
Advocacy-The social worker understands the challenges of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and/or family.
Referral to Service Providers-Throughout the course of treatment the social worker is the specialist on VA and/or community resources.
Resource Usage/Development-The social worker is responsible for using current social work resources and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans.
Education/Consultation-The social worker provides consultation to colleagues and other employees on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans.
Additional Suicide Prevention Supervisor (SPS) duties include, but are not limited to:
- Leading all Suicide Prevention Program responses to audits of the facility's suicide prevention efforts, to include visits by the Office of the Inspector General, the Joint Commission, and others.
- Serving on facility and VISN-level committees and workgroups impacting policies and practice patterns.
- Assists the Chief of Mental Health in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.
Work Schedule: M-F; 8:00am-4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Jillana.Martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more
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)
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: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 516220
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12701667.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account,
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.