Health Technician - Psychology Service

at  US Veterans Health Administration

POSITION DESCRIPTION/PD#: 02755A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, but does involve a considerable amount of walking, both inside and outside the building. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to inclement and intemperate weather. Incumbent must be able to lilt, pull, move moderate to heavy equipment, bags, and boxes.
Work Environment: Work is performed in the PRRTP/MHRRTP resident living unit and administrative offices. The work regularly involves some risk when comforting emotionally disturbed or intoxicated patients.
Driving Requirement: This position has a driving requirement. Note: You will be required to drive a government vehicle approximately five (5) days per week.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA’s) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes:
Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience requirements. To qualify you must possess the following: Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.
In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) AND Time-In-Grade, applicants must also meet the experience relevant to this position. You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Experience with counseling, crisis intervention and basic therapy techniques;
• Experience observing and recording resident behaviors and recommending appropriate courses of action;
• Experience conducting meetings, workshops, or orientation groups; experience entering and pulling data from selected controlled electronic files;
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook software programs.

Driver’s License Requirement: Must possess a valid state issued driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. Note: Please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. You will be required to show your valid driver’s license at the time of your interview.
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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
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/.

THERE IS NO EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

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.

• How to Apply

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.
Help

Duties include:

• Provide information about the resident to families, friends, relatives and/or significant others of the resident within the limitations of the privacy act and the residents consent.
• Generate and maintain computer files containing sensitive and non-sensitive resident data.
• Ensure all new admits have completed required orientations and initial meeting with their case manager.
• Maintain refrigerator logs and cleanliness of refrigerators assigned to the rehabilitation program for resident lunches and medication, following all relevant program. medical center, and Infection Control Policy/Procedures
• Inspect the resident living area for the purpose of checking on resident patient safety, health and hygiene and take immediate corrective action to resolve deficiencies.
• Inspect the resident living area for the purpose of checking on resident patient safety, health and hygiene and take immediate corrective action to resolve deficiencies.
• Conduct observed urine drug screens and breathalyzers of residents as indicated or directed by the Coordinator
• Lift, pull and move residents as needed using a wheelchair or any other type of assistive device. First response type duties also include assisting in ambulance loading an the lifting of loaded stretchers.
• Supervise and evaluate the incentive therapy (IT) residents who have assignments in the rehabilitation living programs.
• Take action to resolve resident problems or makes referral to appropriate clinical staff.
• Meet with the other team members regularly to discuss resident progress and ensure that appropriate documentation of the resident’s behaviors and/or activities in electronic medical record
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions with residents to assess progress and to address rules infractions

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8-hour shift between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Tour of Duty to be determined by supervisor, based on organizational needs.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.