Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval award amount (up to $200000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

VA Careers - Social Work: duties include but are not limited to:

• The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) is responsible for the provision of individual case management and clinical services for veterans deemed to be at high risk for suicidal behavior. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator serves to coordinate and monitor services for Veterans designated as high risk for suicide and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients. The determination of risk level is based on clinical evaluation and assessment of the Veteran by an appropriate mental health provider.
• The Suicide Prevention Coordinator is responsible for coordinating care of high-risk Veterans who receive care throughout the Medical Center CBOCs Veteran Resource and Readjustment Counseling Centers (Vet Centers) and community agencies.
• The SPC works collaboratively with other treatment team members professionals para- professionals and others at the Medical Center and community agencies to assist the Veterans in managing their mental health problems psychosocial needs and identifying barriers to receiving continued treatment and mitigating risk factors related to suicide.
• 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 veterans 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 Veterans 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 Veterans 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 Veterans 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.
• Valid drivers license required.

• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

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 Masters 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 masters degree level.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in written and spoken English to be appointed.