The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the local level through education, monitoring and coordination activities. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the care for Veterans who are at a heightened risk for suicide and tracks those Veterans who have attempted suicide.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major duties include, but are not limited to: Tracking all suicide attempts and patients with serious suicide ideation through the use of the "Suicide Behavior and Overdose 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. Conducting individual and group counseling through Video Connect, Face to Face and/or Telephone appointments for Veterans identified as High Risk for Suicide. Maintaining a tracking list of high-risk veterans to ensure timely contacts are made as specified within the memorandum from the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health and the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management outlining Suicide Prevention Program responsibilities. 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 in light of suicide risk, to include a suicide risk assessment and safety plan. Ensures the required frequency of mental health appointments are arranged for Veterans identified as high risk through this ongoing communication. Completes behavioral health autopsies, Issue Briefs and Heads Up notifications 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 coordinating follow up with the veteran as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. This may include collaboration with the outpatient mental health providers to ensure risk is assessed according to local directives and policy. 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, initiating emergency interventions as appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, contacting the Veteran's identified emergency contact and/or 911. 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 all of these 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 assure that they are aware of options for patients with whom they come in contact during crisis situations. Working with community resources such as Veteran Service Organizations 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. Developing and implementing ongoing education for providers, Veterans, families, and members of the community on suicide prevention. Responds to Suicide Prevention Hotline consults, interfacility consults and phone inquiries from VA staff and community stakeholders to address needs of at-risk Veterans. Ensures patient and staff educational materials on suicide prevention are prominently displayed throughout the facility and CBOCs. Gathers data regarding suicide attempts, completions and staff and community training for recurring suspense reporting, adhering to station and VISN reporting requirements and timelines. Completes all activities for a comprehensive suicide prevention program as outlined in VHA Handbook 1160.01 or any subsequent memos or directive that pertain to SPC functions. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 08:00 to 16:30 Telework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

All requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of the announcement. 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: Must possess a Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in written and spoken English to be appointed. Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator) GS-0185-12 (1) Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate 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. (2) 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. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. (d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Jason Arcand
• Phone: 612-629-7118
• Email: [email protected]