Summary

The Suicide Prevention Coordinator is an advanced practice social worker who practices in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. This position is assigned to the Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center - in Aurora - CO. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) serves as program coordinator at the GS-12 grade & is administratively responsible for the Suicide Prevention Program. They provide direct patient care services to a very high-risk population & manages the daily operation of the program.

Qualifications

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: Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part) English Language Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English 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 the social worker position GS-0185 series in the 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/ORHM//T38Hybrids
• Grade Determination Requirements: 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 - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Suicide Prevention and Suicide Risk Identification - Assessment and Safety Planning 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-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work entails no special physical demands although some physical effort may be required relative to moving equipment and supplies throughout the department and to various parts of the facility as necessitated by educational programming
• Work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing and moving education equipment
• Manual dexterity is required to work educational equipment systems and controls
• Fieldwork will involve travel (up to half of the time) - providing training - attending meetings - or gathering information.

Duties

• Clinical Responsibilities - Has at least two years of specialized experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• - Must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level
• Provides a full range of mental health services utilizing appropriate evaluations and structured interviews - generates reports - and provides expert consultation to other disciplines or units providing care oriented to veterans at high risk for suicide
• - Independently coordinate and monitor services for Veterans designated as \"High Risk for Suicide\" - and act as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients throughout a period of the most acute risk
• They manage the High-Risk Flags and ensure all local and national standards and best practices are met by all services and providers involved in the care of high risk Veterans
• - Assesses the psychosocial - environmental needs - barriers to recovery - or exacerbated psychiatric problems which might contribute to the risk of suicide
• The incumbent establishes and maintains a supportive relationship with the veteran - family - and/or significant others - if appropriate - and works with treatment providers to formulate treatment goals and assists in the development of a structured continuum of care for each case assigned
• - Provides a full range of patient care interventions - including individual - family - and group therapy - as well as specialized interventions such as behavior management consultations and systems or environmental interventions
• - Presents informed reports or educates multi-disciplinary teams on the use of newly proven or evidence-based intervention techniques
• When appropriate - uses newly proven or experimental techniques
• - Attempts to stay current with assessment and therapy techniques by reviewing and/or participating in research
• and by promoting - initiating - assisting or engaging in program evaluation and/or other basic and applied research activities
• Advanced clinical skills in Suicide Risk Assessment and Interventions
• - Significant knowledge of research in the area of Suicidology pertaining to demographics - risk factors and protective factors
• - Detailed knowledge of Substance Abuse problems - Major Depression - Bipolar Disorder - Schizophrenia - Polytrauma and Chronic Pain Syndromes since they often exist/co-exist in patients at risk for suicide
• - Skill in relating constructively with members of an interdisciplinary team and experience working as a therapist with veterans and family members
• - Skill in working with local agencies and community resources to coordinate long-term objectives as necessary
• - Familiarity with clinical and administrative principles related to VA Systems
• - Basic data entry and retrieval - Will adhere to NASW Code of Ethics
• - Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• - Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures
• Complex Care Management and Consultation Responsibilities (1) Interfaces with Psychiatric Inpatient Unit and other specialty programs to determine acuity of Veterans at risk for suicide - providing subject matter consultation regarding risk mitigation - aftercare and complex care management for high-risk Veterans discharged from inpatient status following national guidelines
• (2) Follows national guidelines while independently maintaining a caseload of high-risk Veterans with complex clinical needs and providing comprehensive care management for Veterans entering a period of acute risk
• (3) Facilitation of complex care management and risk mitigation interventions for high-risk Veterans recently discharged from the Emergency Department through the program known as SPED
• (4) Assisting with program oversight - on-going facilitation of complex care management of high-risk Veterans identified through the predictive analytics program known as REACH VET independently reviewing medical record - determining case assignments - providing subject matter consultation - risk mitigations and enhanced care interventions
• (5) Provide evidenced-based care and subject matter consultation to providers - community - and family members impacted by suicide loss as part of the Suicide Postvention Program
• Responds to Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) referrals per national guidelines and internal facility referrals regarding suicidal Veterans or other related crisis with application of independent clinical determinations for risk mitigation and expedition of crisis interventions
• Other duties assigned to the medical center Work Schedule: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: Ad hoc telework may be authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-58023-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized