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 $200,000) & 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.

The Program Coordinator serves as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) in the Mental Health Department and facilitates the implementation of suicide prevention strategies at a local level through education, monitoring, and coordination activities. The SPC functions as a coordinator for care of veterans at suicide risk and acts as an advisor to the MH Executive Council, facility leadership, program managers, and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies for individual patients, for the facility and veteran community as a whole. Additional duties include but are not limited to: Ensures all suicide attempts and completions at their facility are documented in CPRS. Performs difficult and complicated review and analysis of complex issues, ambiguous situations, and ethical conflicts. Uses critical decision-making skills to quickly, logically; can accurately prioritize difficult needs and potential solutions. Employs judgement, initiative, and creativity in independent and/or collaborative problem-solving and in designing solutions when guidelines do not exist or do not apply, or where gaps exist in services, equipment, or coverage. Follows up on consults for high risk for suicide flag placement within required time frames. Monitors veterans that have been identified as high-risk for suicide to assure continued care and treatment. Ensures that providers follow-up on missed appointments for high-risk patients to ensure patient safety, in order to initiate problem-solving about any tensions or difficulties in the patient's ongoing care. Plans and coordinates outreach events, and staff and patient education, during Suicide Awareness Month. Works together with providers and treatment teams to ensure that monitoring and treatment is intensified for high-risk patients and high-risk patients receive education and support about approaches to reduce risks. Builds relationships with local and state suicide prevention organizations, local crisis line organizations, and local Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's). Delivers of VA S.A.V.E. training, or other approved "gatekeeper" training, to all non-clinical staff. Serves as a resource for both the VA facility and community related to veteran suicide and suicide prevention issues. Participates in interdisciplinary planning process and attends team meetings and works in conjunction with the treatment team as needed. Interfaces with services throughout the medical center, including but not limited to medical providers and patient advocate, to resolve administrative and clinical problems including collaboration on national suicide prevention initiatives, on individual patients and the coordination of medical care within the treatment team. Delivers a required number of community outreach activities every month which include driving to and from events in the facility catchment area, transporting outreach materials and facilitating the events. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 evaluation. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.