The Suicide Prevention Program operates within the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) setting at the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. The incumbent will function as Case Manager treating Veteran patients across the life-span, and with the full range of mental health conditions within the Suicide Prevention Program setting for the most part. Duties and responsibilities relate to the case management of veterans who are identified as "high risk" for suicide or suicide behaviors.
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. 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 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: Social Worker, GS-11 (1) Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. (2) Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience with mental health crisis management, suicide risk assessment, and evidence-based practices in mental health treatment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU VA Careers - Licensed Clinical Social Worker: https://youtube.com/embed/U_xC25QsN0w Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional a. Weekly clinical contact for high-risk veterans discharged from inpatient status for the first thirty days post discharge; b. Monthly contact for veterans deemed at high-risk for suicide following national guidelines, and those veterans placed on the high-risk list; c. Review medical records in conjunction with treating mental health provider (s) to ensure completion of suicide risk screen/assessment, personal safety plan and follow-up notes including treatment plan updates; d. Assist with the coordination of all treatment or appointments with mental health and primary care including active communication with all providers involved in enhanced care to high-risk veterans; e. Provide evidenced-based treatment to high-risk veterans (i.e., group, individual CBT) and completion of specialized training and/or certification in evidenced-based treatment for high-risk behavior (e.g. DBT); f. Coordinate, facilitate and review comprehensive discharge planning and social service referrals to high-risk veterans and families; g. Responds to National Suicide Prevention Hotline/Veterans Crisis Line and internal facility calls regarding suicidal veterans; h. Participation in administrative committees associated with tracking and monitoring of high-risk veterans and serving as back-up to Suicide Prevention Coordinator and other Suicide Prevention Case Managers as needed; i. Tracking all suicide attempts and patients with serious suicide ideation at each facility; j. Reaching out to identified high risk Veterans and tracking any no-show appointments by identified veterans with follow-up; k. Provides case management services while utilizing professional skill, objectivity, insight, advanced clinical training, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options and recognizing potential high-risk factors, acuity, and needs for services; l. Ensuring that identified high-risk veterans have a 24-hour resource number to call and ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur; m. 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; n. Other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm 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)