Task Force Lead

Position Summary:

The Zero Suicide Task Force Lead serves as a member of the Prevention team of WestCare Tennessee and works to ensure the delivery of quality services to the WestCare Tennessee Zero Suicide program. The Suicide Task Force Lead will coordinate with the Zero Suicide council members and their staff to reduce suicide, suicide attempts, and deaths due to suicide. Their focus will also decrease the mental health stigma in Cocke and Jefferson Counties by providing education on mental health, reducing stigma of seeking help, and improving access to services.

Essential Job Functions:

• Embraces and embodies the mission, vision, guiding principles, and goals of WestCare Tennessee.
• Serves as the primary contact to the Zero Suicide Oversight Steering Council.
• Uphold strict confidentiality of individual information.
• Develop agendas and facilitate the Zero Suicide Oversight Steering Council monthly meetings.
• Lead in the setting of council priorities and organizational goals.
• Assist with conducting a General Zero Suicide Organizational Self Study from the Zero Suicide toolkit and the Inpatient Organizational Self Study.
• Conduct a Zero Suicide Workforce Survey to assess staff self-perception of their knowledge and comfort interacting with patients at risk for suicide, including providing specific elements of care such as screening, treatment, and support during care transitions.
• Contribute efforts to achieve the Zero Suicide mission and goal through a variety of community events, programs, initiatives and meetings.
• Administer Zero Suicide Oversight Steering Council recommended trainings.
• Ensure the program aligns with the TN Zero Suicide Strategy for Preventing Suicides.
• Participates in clinical staffing decisions regarding the participants current strengths and resources and their need for additional resources.
• Completes mandatory documentation within timelines established by applicable regulations.
• Involves the entire facility in meeting Patients' psychosocial needs.
• Attend in-person and virtual program conferences and meetings, community meetings, and events as deemed necessary.
• Participate in weekly staff team meetings either virtually or in-person to discuss updates, successes, barriers or challenges to meeting grant requirements and plan service activities.
• Participate in monthly meetings with invited community leaders including grant partners to serve as your suicide prevention council to maintain connections and receive recommendations in continuing to serve eligible participants.
• Assist in implementing a public health approach that blends community-based prevention with evidence-based clinical strategies through community efforts.
• Promote and provide health and wellness of eligible participants.
• Establish, develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners that include the school system, law enforcement, local, federal, state, grantors, community stakeholders and other businesses and agencies.
• Serve as community contact person to conduct program presentations and updates building new relationships that will support the Zero Suicide grant activities and service.
• Maintain strong professional relationship boundaries with individuals served and organizations/ community agencies who refer individuals to WestCare Tennessee.
• Serve as a representative of WestCare Tennessee at community events, meetings, workshops and activities.
• Gather and compile appropriate materials to create Public Service Announcements (PSA) and media campaigns that promote the program goals and objectives and to work collaboratively with local radio and tv stations.
• Provide a weekly report to the Project Director reporting the programmatic progress to ensure overall success.
• Recruit and train community volunteers who may assist within the program.
• Gathers appropriate data to generate the required grant reporting in a timely manner.
• Work closely with Research Assistant, and WestCare Foundation Evaluation team regarding the collection of data and reporting of program outcomes.
• Perform additional tasks that support a productive office workflow as deemed necessary by the Project Director or TN Regional Administrator.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance is required.

Education:

• Associate degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Health Science, Nursing, or other related field is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Two years’ experience in providing collaborative oversight and community outreach.
• Experience working with the population of focus or closely related population.
• Current and/or previous experience in a social work similar setting, collaborating directly with participants is preferred.
• Basic knowledge of veteran services, behavioral health, social services, judicial system, law enforcement or related industry.
• Able to collaborate with individuals in crisis.
• Excellent communication skills including public speaking and group facilitation/training.
• Some experience with performing outreach and marketing.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct and confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served.
• Research and evaluate data.
• Experience with using data tracking systems.
• Ability to work in different program systems in providing day to day operations.
• Ability to stay highly organized and maintain time management.
• Ability to utilize a computer and software that includes Microsoft 365.
• Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in a combination of an office and outdoor setting.
• Some travel will be required to trainings and conferences.
• Local travel is associated with participating in stakeholder meetings and other potential meetings to fulfill the requirements of the Zero Suicide program.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and proper utilization by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, the public, and in those activities in

which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or promptly.

• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision including proper eyewear at 20 inches or less and at distance.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with co-workers, managers, and the public at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.