Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

VA Careers - Social Work: position serves as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) for James J. Peters (JJP) Bronx VA Medical Center. The SPC is organizationally co-aligned with Mental Health Service and Social Work Service but provides Suicide Prevention services for the JJP VAMC catchment area. The incumbent manages the daily operation of the Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) provides care coordination and case management services administers crisis interventions promotes system and community-wide crisis resources provides suicide prevention education and training and collects/records mandatory data for National Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) and local reporting services. The SPC is a member of the Suicide Prevention Team (SPT) and collaboratively works with the SPT members in the development of policies and procedures for program operations implementation of suicide prevention strategies with an emphasis on ensuring that all appropriate measures are taken to prevent duties of this position include:

• The coordination and monitoring of mental health and medical services for Veterans identified as high risk for suicide collaboration with the Veterans Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) and clinical treatment team to provide suicide prevention consultation track treatment progress and provide individualized comprehensive case management services.
• S/he collaborates with treating clinicians to assess risk and provide guidance about criteria for Patient Record Flags Category I - High Risk for Suicide (HRS-PRF) placements and ensures that high-risk Veterans are receiving appropriate care following their HRS-PRF placements including increased frequency of clinical care visits and follow-up after missed appointments.
• In conjunction with the healthcare team the incumbent identifies and assesses risk safety supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse neglect exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Adheres to VA and mandated reporter requirements. Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on abuse neglect exploitation and intimate partner violence issues.
• The incumbent is responsible for responding to referrals from staff members the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) and other touch points to ensure that at-risk Veterans immediately receive care and services.
• The SPC performs mandated outreach and awareness activities as a member of the SPT to increase awareness of suicide prevention best practices and to improve the publics understanding and knowledge of suicide risk factors military culture lethal means safety and the accessibility of available resources such as the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL).
• The incumbent engages in educational activities including but not limited to dissemination of clinical practice guidelines educational materials related to suicide prevention training both clinical and nonclinical staff within VA to identify and respond to Veterans who are at increased risk for suicide and providing training to community organizations and staff who have contact with Veterans (e.g. local SPP procedures suicide prevention topics such as crisis response safety planning postvention suicide risk screening and evaluation).
• Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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. Have a masters 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 masters degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to 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 masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).