Job Details

Suicide Prevention 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.

Responsibilities Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: The SPC functions as a coordinator for care of veterans at suicide risk and an advisor to the Suicide Prevention Program Manager and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies for individual patients level, and for the facility and veterans community as a whole. This is accomplished through:

• Administrative Duties:
• The SPC is responsible for tracking and reporting all suicide attempts and completions at the facility.
• The SPC is responsible for maintaining a facility "high-risk" list which identifies patients who have been deemed at-risk for suicide, per consultation with clinicians.
• The SPC exclusively controls the Patient Record Flag as it relates to suicide and limits its use to patients who meet the criteria of being placed on the facility high risk list.
• The SPC maintains the list of patients who have a Patient Record Flag for suicide and reviews the list at least every 90 days.
• The SPC should participate in the aggregate suicide Root Cause Analyses (RCA's) and individual RCA's concerning patients who have attempted or committed suicide.
• The SPC should be involved in the Environment of Care (EOC) Safety Survey.
• The SPC is required to assist the EOC Safety Survey team in determining actions that should be taken to improve the mental health inpatient environment.
• The SPC is responsible for updating and revising, as necessary, local policies related to suicide prevention training, documentation, and suicide risk assessments. This shall be in coordination with the CARE Team manager and ACOS MHSL.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.
• Clinical Duties:
• The SPC is responsible for following up on consults (within 24 business hours) received from the Veterans Crisis Line to assure timely access to care and follow-up for patients in crisis. When an appointment is needed, and when possible, the SPC should meet the veteran at the door to make sure they are seen and evaluated in a timely manner. When needed, the SPC assists with and expedites veteran enrollment into the VA.
• The SPC will contact veterans who have been identified as surviving an attempt or who are identified as being high risk. Personal contact will be made with the veteran and the SPC will establish US mail contact with him/her in order to provide an "enhanced care" model of prevention which maintains communication with the veteran. The SPC documents, when appropriate, the nature of follow-up and plans for continuing treatment in the electronic medical record.
• The SPC is responsible for assisting in the suicide risk assessment (if clinical consultation is necessary) in individual patients in conjunction with the treating clinician and managing the Patient Record Flag for patients at high risk for suicide.
• The SPC is responsible for continued contact and monitoring with veterans that have been identified as high-risk for suicide to assure continued care and treatment.
• The SPC ensures that patients identified as being at high risk for suicide receive follow-up for any missed mental health and substance abuse appointments in conjunction with the clinical treatment team, and that this follow-up is documented by the MH treatment providers in the electronic medical record.
• The SPC is responsible for following-up on referrals received from staff as a result of the SAVE training.
• Other clinical duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 0800-1630

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact ...@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): NotAuthorized

Requirements Conditions of Employment:

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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, 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 examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.

Qualifications:

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. Candidates must meet one of the following:
• (1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE,
• (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
• (3) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. Exception: The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations for a period not to exceed three years from the date of employment on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under the supervision of a fully licensed MFT with an AAMFT approved license. Non-licensed MFTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given an appointment as an MFT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7401(3). This exception only applies at the entry grade level (GS-9). For grades at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed.
• 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:

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-12 (Advanced):

• (a) Education, Experience and Licensure. Candidate must have successfully completed evidence based training in family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the AMFTRE. Candidate must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise. Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential.
• (b) Demonstrated KSAs:
• 1. Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals, families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy.
• 2