Senior Social Worker-Suicide Prevention Coordinator

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – the award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the EDRP application.

• Citizenship:
  All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Non‑citizens may be appointed only when no qualified U.S. citizen candidate exists.
• Education:
  
  Requires a master’s degree in social work from a school fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Degree must meet CSWE accreditation standards; candidacy‑status schools do not satisfy the requirement until full accreditation. A doctoral degree does not substitute for the master’s degree.
• Licensure:
  Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master’s‑degree level.
• Physical and emotional requirements:
  Work is generally sedentary but may require sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, climbing stairs, carrying light items and using a computer. Emotional demands can be stressful; self‑awareness is essential.
• English language proficiency:
  Proficient in spoken and written English per 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• Grade determination (GS‑12 Senior Social Worker):
  • At least two years of experience after advanced practice licensure, with at least one year at the GS‑11 level.
  • Advanced practice skills and judgment, advanced clinical licensure, and capability to supervise licensure.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) including:
    • Expertise in specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty programs or with special patient populations.
    • Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment.
    • Knowledge of developing and implementing outcome evaluation methods.
    • Ability to provide specialized consultation and role‑model best practices.
    • Ability to expand clinical knowledge, write policies, procedures, and practice guidelines.
• Assignments:
  Must perform higher‑level duties involving significant scope and complexity at least 25% of the time, including clinical program development, collaboration with treatment teams, leadership and training, and supervision of licensure.

• Maintain a caseload of high‑risk veterans, providing case management and enhanced care.
• Respond to crisis callers and coordinate with clinicians regarding veterans at immediate risk.
• Participate in daily interdisciplinary meetings with the Suicide Prevention Team and weekly meetings to review consults for veterans identified as high risk for suicide; provide outreach up to 90 days on an as‑needed basis.
• Develop plans of care to link high‑risk veterans to mental‑health access clinics or specialty clinics.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert in Root Cause Analysis Teams and senior leadership teams.
• Participate in monthly National Suicide Prevention Center calls.
• Complete behavioral autopsy reports following a suicide.
• Monitor veteran records to ensure appointment compliance.
• Ensure all high‑risk veterans and staff have access to the 24‑hour Veteran Crisis Line (988).
• Collaborate with community resources such as Veteran Service Organizations and Vet Centers to educate on risk factors and facilitate assistance for high‑risk veterans.
• Assess and evaluate veteran suicide risk factors and symptom severity, determining level of care and interventions—face‑to‑face, by phone, or through record reviews.
• Develop ongoing education plans for mental‑health service lines, facility healthcare providers, veterans, families, and community members on suicide risk factors, warning signs, and treatment options.
• Provide expertise and consultation on suicide prevention to inpatient and outpatient providers.
• Participate in team meetings as needed.
• Provide education and training throughout the facility.
• Attend suicide prevention outreach events, providing education and materials to community partners and agencies.
• Par…