The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) is an advanced practice social worker assigned. The incumbent's primary responsibility is to provide evidence based clinical services (assessment, treatment planning and therapy), program development, Veteran and staff education; outreach; continuous quality improvement activities; and evaluation/consultation.
Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States 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 Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) Grade Determination GS-12: Must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, in which the experience demonstrates a possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: (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. Licensure/Certification: Must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Develops and implements the Suicide Prevention Program at their location and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility, VISN and VA Central Office initiatives as appropriate for after Suicide Prevention Assesses the needs of the population served to determine treatment needs and programs to be developed Develops programming to address the needs of the Veteran population considering local needs, VISN needs and VA direction such as the Uniform Services Handbook Coordinates ongoing evaluation to ensure effective treatment using best practices Identifies unmet needs and works collaboratively with facility, VISN and VA Central Office staff to develop and implement solutions Identifies gaps in services and develops a plan, in consultation with facility staff that will make available the best possible resources in meeting program needs Establishes processes, establishes oversight responsibilities, and maintains a record-keeping system for the program Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans and families in coordination with the overall goals of the medical center and those of the VISN and VA Central Office Develops and maintains information systems to track program activities Develops, implements, and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services and resources across all sites of care Develops policy and procedures to ensure compliance with the Joint Commission, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and other accrediting bodies and regulatory standards as needed Provides training to staff regarding services offered in the Suicide Prevention program The SPC prepares, plans and advises the Suicide Prevention Program manager of anticipated changes in workload, staffing needs, and program developments Develops and monitors efficiency and effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Program at their assigned location, evaluation evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate Makes recommendations for program development utilizing systems redesign principles Oversees the Suicide Prevention Case Manager(s) (SPCM), including monitoring their caseload and the advocacy services provided to high risk for suicide Veterans in their caseload(s) Provides follow up on consults (within 24 business hours) received from the Veterans Crisis Line to assure timely access to care and follow-up for patients in crisis Assures that all Veterans on the facility high risk for suicide list are being followed closely by the appropriate provider on a regular basis as determined by the coordinator and the provider Tracks any no-show appointments by these Veterans and following up with the Veteran as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment Ensures continued contact and monitoring with Veterans that have been identified as high risk for suicide to assure continuity of enhanced level of care Ensures all Veterans identified as high risk for suicide is afforded the opportunity to complete a Safety Plan that is documented in CPRS and that the Veteran is provided with a copy of their Safety Plan Ensures that patients identified as being at high risk for suicide receive follow-up for any missed mental health and substance abuse appointments in conjunction with the clinical treatment team, and that this follow-up is documented in the electronic medical record Responsible for submission of Behavioral Autopsy reports on completed suicides and for contacting family members of Veterans who completed suicide to obtain agreement for contact with national SP staff to complete the Family Interview component of Behavioral Autopsy as assigned Advocates on behalf of Veterans at risk for suicide to ensure that services are obtained in a timely manner and in keeping with the VA's goal for excellence in customer service Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized