The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) is the Coordinator of the Atlanta VA HCS Suicide Prevention Program. Incumbent is delegated the responsibility and authority for ensuring local planning and coordination of mental health care and support to Veterans who are at high risk for suicide. The SPC assists the medical center's administration and staff with improving identification of Veterans at risk for suicide as well as promoting early access to mental health care.

Duties

Duties to include but not limited to: The SPC is the subject matter expert and point of contact for all suicide related matters. He/she also oversees the day-to-day processing of crisis line referrals from the National Veterans Crisis Line to the Atlanta VA within a 24-hour period. The National Veterans call center referrals are crisis calls by nature and involves critical thinking and knowledge of available resources for Veterans in acute or routine life situations, including psychiatric emergencies. The SPC reports and investigates all suicide related sentinel events to Central Office via the Health Care Center's Executive Staff. The SPC provides ongoing formal and informal education to VA staff as well as community partners regarding any changes in VA policy concerning the Suicide Prevention program. He/she also works independently with the VAMC Medical Staff leadership to provide education and training regarding identification, documentation, and follow-up for Veterans at high risk for suicide. He/she is responsible for organizing and preparing monthly reports concerning the Suicide Prevention program for the Medical Center Director, VISN and Central Office. He /she is also responsible for providing community outreach and training for the greater Atlanta area including CBOC's and their surrounding counties. The SPC has a dual role as team leader for the Suicide Prevention program which encompasses the planning and administering of daily team meetings, operations, and stimulating team involvement towards problem solving. The team leader consults regularly with the staff to ensure timely follow up and care involving psychiatric emergencies. As team leader, the SPC may also carry a small caseload of patients for crisis intervention and high risk follow up. The SPC performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised. He /she establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. He /she observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. He/she can resolve informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. He/she provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Reviews and approves disapproves leave requests. The SPC supervises an organizational unit. The SPC assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations as well as supervises employees to accomplish the work of the organization unit. Exercises supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. The SPC performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30-4pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.(2) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA.Exceptions: (1) new VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern and (2) VHA facilities who offered full one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-14:At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Preferred Experience: Must have at least two years of Suicide Prevention Coordination experience directly Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). References: VA Handbook 5005 , Appendix G-18. Physical Requirements: No special physical demands are required for this position. Employee frequently carry light items such paper files, records, etc. The work is primarily performed while sitting though some work may required periods of standing. Must pass pre-employment examination. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Christie Lowery
• Phone: 205-554-2000
• Email: [email protected]