The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) is located at ECHCS in the Mental Health Service and serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the local level through education, monitoring, and coordination activities. The SPC identifies veterans at risk for suicide, tracks appointments, and coordinates care. The SPC educates providers, veterans, families, and members of the community about risk factors and warning signs for suicide and treatment options.
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 doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re- specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re- specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND Internships Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed OR New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one- year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS- 12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Grade Requirements: Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration. 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). Preferred Experience: Experience in Suicide Prevention and Suicide Risk Identification, Assessment and Safety Planning Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS12 to GS13. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. Some travel may be required in order to attend trainings. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.
Clinical Responsibilities - Independently coordinate &monitor services for Veterans designated as "High Risk for Suicide", &act as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients throughout a period of the most acute risk. They manage the High-Risk Flags &ensure all local &national standards &best practices are met by all services &providers involved in the care of high risk Veterans. - Assesses the psychosocial, environmental needs, barriers to recovery, or exacerbated psychiatric problems which might contribute to the risk of suicide. The incumbent establishes &maintains a supportive relationship with the veteran, family, and/or significant others, if appropriate, &works with treatment providers to formulate treatment goals &assists in the development of a structured continuum of care for each case assigned. - Provides a full range of patient care interventions, including individual, family, &group therapy, as well as specialized interventions such as behavior management consultations &systems or environmental interventions. - Presents informed reports or educates multi-disciplinary teams on the use of newly proven or evidence based intervention techniques. When appropriate, uses newly proven or experimental techniques. - Attempts to stay current with assessment &therapy techniques by reviewing and/or participating in research; &by promoting, initiating, assisting or engaging in program evaluation and/or other basic &applied research activities. - Advanced clinical skills in Suicide Risk Assessment &Interventions. - Significant knowledge of research in the area of Suicidology pertaining to demographics, risk factors &protective factors. - Detailed knowledge of Substance Abuse problems, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Polytrauma &Chronic Pain Syndromes since they often exist/co-exist in patients at risk for suicide. - Skill in relating constructively with members of an interdisciplinary team &experience working as a therapist with veterans &family members. - Skill in working with local agencies &community resources to coordinate long-term objectives as necessary. - Familiarity with clinical &administrative principles related to VA Systems. - Basic data entry &retrieval - Complies with national &local performance measures, including timely health care screening &completion of clinical reminders for all patients. - Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation &proper patient check out procedures. Complex Care Management &Consultation Responsibilities (1) Interfaces with Psychiatric Inpatient Unit &other specialty programs to determine acuity of Veterans at risk for suicide, providing subject matter consultation regarding risk mitigation, aftercare &complex care management for high-risk Veterans discharged from inpatient status following national guidelines. (2) Follows national guidelines while independently maintaining a caseload of high-risk Veterans with complex clinical needs &providing comprehensive care management for Veterans entering a period of acute risk. (3) Facilitation of complex care management &risk mitigation interventions for high-risk Veterans recently discharged from the Emergency Department through the program known as SPED. (4) Assisting with program oversight, on-going facilitation of complex care management of high-risk Veterans identified through the predictive analytics program known as REACH VET independently reviewing medical record, determining case assignments, providing subject matter consultation, risk mitigations &enhanced care interventions. (5) Provide evidenced-based care &subject matter consultation to providers, community, &family members impacted by suicide loss as part of the Suicide Postvention Program. (6) Coordination with mental health, primary care, &other treatment teams across disciplines &clinical settings involved in the provision of comprehensive care to high-risk Veterans. (7) Demonstrates advanced knowledge of suicide prevention interventions for high-risk veterans as a subject matter expert activating direct interventions as well as consultative expertise for providers &community partners in the application of evidenced-based interventions. Responds to Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) referrals per national guidelines &internal facility referrals regarding suicidal Veterans or other related crisis with application of independent clinical determinations for risk mitigation &expedition of crisis interventions. Other duties assigned to the medical center Work Schedule: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: Ad hoc telework may be authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-54184-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized