SUMMARY

The Health Technician is a direct care staff in the St. Cloud VA Health Care System Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program. This specialized treatment program provides residential, bio-psychosocial services in the treatment of substance use and/or mental health disorders. This position provides support in a wide variety of basic clinical and administrative activities in the residential outpatient domiciliary setting.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing administrative/clerical and clinical duties; interpreting and utilizing standard medical terminology/abbreviations for the human body; utilizing computer technology, including software, printers, and copiers; recognizing emergent/urgent medical conditions or complaints and immediately referring to clinical staff. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials if you are basing all or part of your experience on education. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as listed above. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials if you are basing all or part of your experience on education. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Preferred Experience: Mental Health experience preferred.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

EDUCATION

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Major duties include, but not limited to:

• Serves as a liaison between patients, team members, specialty, and ancillary services.
• Documents patient interactions in various computer programs including vital signs, Urine Drug Screens (UDS), observed patient behaviors, activities participation, group education notes, appointments, etc.
• Maintaining the safety and security of patients.
• Performs environmental rounds, maintaining awareness of patient activities and participation requirements.
• Facilitates recovery-based psycho-education groups to Veterans with mental health and substance abuse.
• Assists doctors and nurses in the care and treatment of ill Veterans.
• Conducts simple tests, such as, glucometer readings and vital signs and records the results.
• Obtains all key information needed in initiating medical processing of physician orders.
• Initiates appropriate procedures in emergency situations, including response to emergency events and drills, as well as medical emergencies.
• Communicates with people from diverse cultural, educational, and organizational backgrounds within and outside the facility.

Work Schedule: Varies Sunday - Saturday, rotating weekends and holidays. Rotating schedules days/evenings or overnight: 7:30am - 4:00pm, 3:30pm - 12 midnight, or 12 midnight - 8:00am. Specific schedule will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD90479A
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
The work is performed in a clinic setting. This includes a variety of periods of sitting, walking, standing, and carrying of items. The incumbent must be able to utilize good body mechanics. Must be physically capable of walking distances required to perform daily rounds, multiple times per shift, respond to emergencies within the facility, complete emergency procedures including, but not limited to: evacuations, drills, and Basic Life Support ((BLS). The incumbent must be able to maintain auditory and visual alertness during all assigned tours of duty.
Work Environment/Conditions: The work is performed in the residential outpatient domiciliary setting. The environment involves risk, which requires normal safety precautions. The employee works in a health care facility where exposure to contagious disease exists. The physical surroundings involve risks and discomfort that requires special precautions, e.g., exposure to undiagnosed and infectious disease, contacts with patients under the influence of intoxicants, verbal and physical assault from patients, etc.
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran’s community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.