The Albany VA Medical Center social worker program coordinator for the Suicide Prevention Program is a full-time position aligned under Mental Health Service with a 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 promotes early access to mental health care.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Responsible for the multiple programs and initiatives that fall under the suicide prevention arena to include High Risk Flagging protocol and case management of high-risk Veterans, REACH VET program measures and processes, Suicide Risk Identification measures and processes, Safety Planning to include SPED measures and processes. Coordinating and implementing the Suicide Prevention 2.0- Community Engagement and Partnership initiative/program in addition to Compact Act and clinical oversight for the Rapid Access Clinic social worker. Responsibility for tracking and reporting all suicide attempts and completions at the facility. Analysis of data and trending and proposing additional education, process changes, and reporting to leadership. Subject Matter Expert to other BVAC Chiefs and Team Leaders to assist in the implementation of new processes/practices to improve outcomes related to suicide prevention. Exclusively controlling the Category I Patient Record Flag (PRF) as it relates to suicide and limiting its use to patients who meet the criteria for being placed on the facility high risk list. Conducting regular review of requests for PRFs and working with providers to elevate their understanding of the flagging program for appropriate use of flags. Maintaining the list of patients who have a Category I Patient Record Flag for suicide and reviewing the list at least every 90 days. Assigning work to Suicide Prevention Case Managers to assure all parts of the PRF process are completed in timely manner. Responsibility for managing and overseeing the aggregate suicide Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) that relate to suicide attempts and completions. Analysis of the data, trends, and development of actions identified as a result of the aggregate. Participating in individual RCAs concerning patients who have attempted or died by suicide. Works closely with facility Patient Safety Officer on these and then works to make sure various outcomes are completed as needed by the various service areas. Involvement in the Environment of Care (EOC) and assisting the EOC team in determining actions that should be taken to improve the mental health inpatient environment as well as suicide risk throughout the facility. Establishing relationships with local and state suicide prevention organizations, local crisis line organizations, and local Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). Participation on local community councils to represent the VA and VHA suicide prevention efforts. Developing partnerships with various facility programs including Transition and Care Management (OEF/OIF/OND), Patient Safety Manager (PSM), Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), local Vet Centers, inpatient psychiatry care teams and local mental health teams. Directing the work of the new Suicide Prevention 2.0 initiative, the community engagement and partnership initiative and related CEPC coordinator position. Developing and implementing policy and procedures to ensure compliance with the Joint Commission, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VACO OMHSP and other accrediting bodies and regulatory standards, as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD49797F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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. Education: Possess 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. For grades below or at the full performance level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master's level within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker. Licensure: Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). GS-13 Grade Determination: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates 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. AND 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: 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 Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany 113 Holland Ave Albany, NY 12208 US
• Name: Crystal Collier
• Email: [email protected]