Summary The position is in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) that provides extended care to Veterans for mental health needs, substance abuse treatment, Compensated Work Therapy (CWT), and homelessness. Incumbent works all shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis. The Health Technician performs both clinical and administrative duties in support of the mission of the MHRRTP. Responsibilities Responsible for developing and maintaining a therapeutic professional helping relationship with Residents admitted to the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) . Provides orientation to new Residents by explaining MHRRTP policies/procedures, treatment expectations and goals. Interviews each Resident to assess skills associated with activities of daily living, leisure and work interests, personal hygiene, interpersonal communication, etc. Maintains close contact with Residents to ensure that their behavior and social adjustments are satisfactory. Provides crisis intervention in situations of a medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral emergency. Utilizes independent judgment to promptly assesses the situation and initiates appropriate action to secure medical care or police assistance to maintain a safe environment for both staff and residents. Monitors Residents compliance with MHRRTP rules and regulations and communicates concerns with the clinical staff and documents appropriately (e.g., actions) in the electronic medical record. Responsible for reporting on station and off station injuries, adverse events, near misses, or abuse of any Residents to their immediate supervisor and submitting a Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPSR). In the case of unconscious Residents, initiates basic cardiac life support utilizing Basic Life Support (BLS), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED). Transports laboratory specimens to the facility laboratory as needed. Coordinates transportation of Residents with MHRTTP clinical staff and Program Manager in a safe and appropriate manner to authorized community integration programs/facilities and medical appointments. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all Residents and staff to include housekeeping and sanitation, security safety, repair and maintenance of rooms, ramps, and areas surrounding the buildings. Makes daily inspections to check health, safety, and security problems. Initiates appropriate corrective action including work orders or calling for emergency repairs and ensures MHRRTP Manager is notified. May serve as the keycard system administrator. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Rotating shifts (including weekends & holidays) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual/remote position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Domiciliary) / PDHA519-01161-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Subject to background/security investigation Valid driver's license Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/08/2026. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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. AND GS-6 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 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. Specialized experience includes: general knowledge of medical diagnoses/conditions; general knowledge of mental health diagnoses/conditions; general knowledge of alcohol and drug dependence and the rehabilitation process; general knowledge of the aging process and its effects upon Resident's level of functioning; ability to operate the AED and perform BLS/CPR; Knowledge of medical terminology for use in preparation of documentation for Residents' electronic medical record; Knowledge of and skill in utilizing a computer to perform data entry and retrieval of information; Knowledge of infection control methods and universal precaution to maintain a healthy and infection free living area; Knowledge of fire safety, emergency and disaster procedures to provide guidance to Residents and other staff; and knowledge of sanitation methods, materials and techniques, and ability to implement them to maintain a clean environment. There is no educational substitution for the GS-6 level. Physical Requirements: Work is carried out in a 24/7 residential treatment setting serving a population of male and female Veterans ranging from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing, twisting, climbing stairs, climbing ladders, simple grasping, reading above shoulder. Transferring patients and/or objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don PPE. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative due to psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities and use good judgement based on residents' needs. Conditions may also include heat, cold, excess humidity, work with chemicals, dust, noise, driving a vehicle, fire manipulation. 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
