The Social Worker (Suicide Prevention Case Manager) is responsible for coordination and monitoring of services provided to veterans designated as being at a high risk for suicide and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients.

Duties

Responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring patient or program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measurements Works closely with the VA medical center's mental health programs, Health Care Centers (HCC's), Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's), homeless programs, residential and community care programs, and domiciliary programs to ensure that coordination between these entities is facilitated and Veterans direct care, referral, and follow up is contiguous and based on a continuum of services Provides clinical psychosocial and case management services at an advanced practice level for eligible veterans and their family members in the program Interviews veterans, families, and other significant contacts Uses interviews to establish facts about the veteran's condition, the environment, available support, eligibility, and impact of circumstances on the veteran and recommends or makes referral to appropriate program(s) or directs veteran to appropriate community resources Conducts suicide risk assessments with veterans which involve identification of known suicide risk factors, warning signs, psychosocial stressors, and protective factors Based on information gathered through suicide risk assessment, makes clinical judgments regarding level of assessed suicide risk and determines appropriate plan of care that is consistent with the level of assessed risk Provides counseling to the patient, caregiver(s), family members, and/or significant others assisting them in coping with the psychosocial stress related to illness and other stressors Provides clinical/therapeutic intervention and individual or family counseling. Makes initial and continuing decisions coordinating the veteran's care through linking and referral to VA medical facilities or Regional Offices and other VA and non-VA services and provides independent consultation and makes recommendation to the interdisciplinary team on course of action Assures that all veterans assigned to the facility high risk monitoring list are being followed for a time-period not less than 90 days following hospitalization, or 90 days from the date of assignment to the high-risk list During the high-risk monitoring period, the case manager is responsible for conducting or coordinating face to face and/or telephone contact with the veteran to assess their safety and ongoing compliance with treatment Tracks any no- show appointments by high risk patients and assists as needed with follow-up Assures that all high-risk patients have completed a Safety Plan which documents crisis intervention strategies the veteran can use to remain safe With the patient's consent, contacts family members and/or other identified supports to provide education and involve in the patient's treatment and safety planning Collaborates with the primary therapist to oversee the transition of care to assure that appropriate mental health follow up is in place Responds to consults from the National Veteran Suicide Hotline, assuring that consults are completed and appropriate follow up is made within one business day Initiates emergency interventions appropriate to situations Responds to requests from VA staff as well as veteran and/or family members regarding problem/situation resolution Responsible for contacting the primary therapist for veterans identified as being high risk for suicide to coordinate monitoring activities, tracking appointments and coordinating enhanced care as needed Maintains awareness of suicide treatment options and makes recommendations to the patient's provider when new options become available Assists Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) with provision of ongoing SAVE Training where required or requested Along with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator, conducts outreach to community resources such as Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's) and other community groups to assure that they are aware of how to recognize veterans at risk for suicide and their options for getting these veterans assistance Establishes a continuing relationship with the veteran, evaluating progress towards goals and adjusting the treatment plan as appropriate Makes recommendations for care and changes to interdisciplinary treatment plan Documents independently in the medical records utilizing paper and/or electronic formats, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referral Responsible for assuring timely and accurate documentation, using appropriate notes and templates as defined within the facility Suicide Prevention Program as well as mental health Performs other directly-related duties as assigned Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. 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. Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations. This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level. For appointments at the GS-9 grade 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 three years of their appointment as a social worker. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determination: GS-9 Social Worker Experience, Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. At the GS-9 level, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the Veterans problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. (c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. GS-11 Social Worker Specialized Experience: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings. OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e. acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan. (d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. (e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students, and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Licensure: GS-9 - Must become licensed or certified at the independent level within three years of appointment. GS-11 - Must have a license or certification in a state at the independent practice level. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39

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 WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Reginald Young
• Phone: 704-638-9000
• Email: [email protected]