Senior Social Worker -Suicide Prevention Coordinator
What you'd do
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.
Major duties
This is a Senior Social Worker position assigned to the Mental Health and Behavioral Science Service at the Miami VAMC. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Tracking all suicide attempts and suicidal self-directed violence behavior with or without injury through the use of the Suicide Behavior Report Template. The coordinator will implement the use of this template at each facility and be placed as a co-signer or additional signer on the template in order to be made aware of all attempts and behavior. Assuring that all veterans on the facility high risk 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 patients and following up with the patient as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. Disseminating, organizing, and, where possible, conducting evidence-based and promising, emerging interventions. For example, these may include: Obtaining any relevant HIPAA clearances to allow transmittal of facility data on suicide attempts and individuals at risk to the VISN19 MIRECC for trending and quality assurance purposes; and transmitting the data following cyber security requirements as applicable for this sensitive data. Assuring that all of these patients have a 24-hour resource number to call and ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur. Coordinating the conduct of regularly scheduled environmental scans on inpatient psychiatric units to identify elements of the architecture or care processes that may lead to suicidal behavioral, and follow-up as needed. 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 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. Developing and implementing an ongoing education plan for providers, veterans, families, and members of the community on risk factors and warning signs for suicide, and treatment options. Coaches' colleagues in team building. Makes sustained contributions to healthcare by sharing expertise within and/or outside the facility. Demonstrates positive communication skills and behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers. Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethical consultations. Manages program resources {human, financial, material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective and efficient care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:30125F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Authorized. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP. Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at [email protected] for questions/assistance. Learn more. Additional Benefits 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) Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
What you need to qualify
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: Must be a US Citizen. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.GS-12-(SF-50 Documentation Submitted) - Senior Social Worker candidates must have the following: Experience/Education: Must have at least two (2) years of experience POST advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. AND Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless you are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Advanced License must be submitted with application. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. These are the KSA's for this position and grade level: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience includes performing comprehensive assessments, developing treatment plans, coordinating care, providing crisis intervention, and engaging in client advocacy. Candidates should be able to work independently while offering psychosocial support to individuals with complex health and/or mental health needs, as well as delivering short-term, solution-focused counseling to clients and their families. Experience in identifying, obtaining, and coordinating resources and facilitating appropriate referrals is also preferred. Additional preferred qualifications include two or more years of post-licensure clinical experience and prior work in specialty clinics such as Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, Urology, Ophthalmology, and Orthopedic Surgery. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
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