Senior Social Worker (Suicide Prevention)

Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, 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 complete review of the EDRP application.

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Suicide Prevention Senior Social Worker serves to facilitate the implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the local level through education, monitoring, and coordination activities. The SPC is responsible for coordinating the care for Veterans who are at a heightened risk for suicide and tracks those Veterans who have attempted suicide. Tracking all suicide attempts and patients with serious suicide ideation through the "Suicide Behavior Report". Provides 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 plans for Veterans via phone and in person. Coordinating with mental health staff and primary care staff through ongoing communication to ensure that necessary components in the veteran's care plan are addressed to include a suicide risk assessment and safety plan. Completes behavioral health autopsies as required by the National Suicide Prevention Program. Following completed suicides, provides postvention services to both surviving family members and VA staff involved in the affected Veteran's care. Participation and provision of expertise on individual root cause analysis teams. Assuring that all Veterans on the facility tracking list are being followed closely by the appropriate provider on a regular basis as determined by the coordinator and the provider. Tracking any no-show appointments by these Veterans and following up with him or her as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. Initiating emergency interventions as appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, contacting the Veteran's identified emergency contact and/or 911 if the safety of a Veteran is unable to be established, or it is determined that the Veteran is at imminent risk for self-harm. Disseminating, organizing, and where possible, conducting evidence-based and promising/emerging interventions. Maintaining awareness of suicide treatment options and making recommendations to the Veteran's provider when new options become available. Assuring that Veterans have a 24-hour resource number to call and ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur. Assuring compliance with Joint Commission standards related to suicide prevention. Establishing an on-going Gatekeeper Training program with non-clinical frontline staff such as clerks and telephone operators to ensure that they are aware of options for Veterans they encounter during crisis situations. Working with community resources such as Veteran Service Organizations and other community groups to assure them 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 consults, interfacility consults, and phone inquiries from VA staff/community stakeholders to address needs of at-risk Veterans. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 #:71074F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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