Summary The VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System is recruiting to fill five (5) Health Technician positions within the Community Engagement & Reintegration Service (CERS), Domiciliary Unit (also commonly referred to as "the DOM"). The DOM is a 296-bed residential rehabilitation facility providing extended care to Veterans with complex medical, psychiatric, alcohol and drug abuse and homeless problems. The incumbent performs various domiciliary care and related administrative duties. Responsibilities The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Develops and maintains a therapeutic, beneficial and helpful relationship with residents admitted to the Domiciliary. Provides orientation to new residents by explaining policies and 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. Monitors compliance with treatment plan requirements as well as Domiciliary regulations. Communicates with the treatment teams and documents in the medical record: treatment plan compliance, conformity with domiciliary rules and regulations and behavioral observations. Works with residents who have a variety of physical, mental, emotional and behavior problems, using various techniques and appropriately identifying or resolving residents' problems or referring them to staff with specialized practical or professional clinical expertise. Provides initial crisis intervention in situations of an emergent medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral nature. Utilizes training and/or experience in prevention and management of disruptive behavior, the incumbent promptly addresses the situation, initiating appropriate action to secure medical care or police assistance. Performs regular administrative functions, e.g. processes residents for clearance, completes entries in communication log, completes progress notes. Documents in the medical record: treatment plan compliance, conformity with Domiciliary rules and regulations and behavioral observations. Work Schedule: Various Tour of Duty ranging from 07:30am to 04:00pm; 03:30pm to 12:00am and 11:30pm to 08:00am Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Domiciliary)/ 12033A Physical Requirements: Work is carried out mostly in patient-care areas, two buildings including bedrooms, UA processing rooms, offices, and exterior environments. However, incumbent regularly conducts inspections and supervises building cleanup, etc. Overall duties require occasional lifting, carrying 50+ lbs., sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, climbing ladders, kneeling, bending, stooping, twisting, pulling/pushing, simple grasping, reaching above shoulder. Conditions may also include heat. cold, excess humidity, work with chemicals, duct, noise, driving a vehicle, fire manipulation. Flexibly, tact. initiative and critical thinking are needed to perform duties with residents within a wide range of diagnostic categories. Must be able to physically defend against physical attacks from residents/patients. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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: Working within a mental health/geriatric facility providing emotional support to patients; providing follow-up treatment and care within a rehabilitative care environment using medical/surgical skills; knowledge of psychiatric conditions and psychological dysfunctional states; familiarity with alcohol and drug dependency in the aging population; skill in the use of Basic Life Support procedures (e.g., use of Automated External Defibrillator or equivalent and basic CPR); use of medical terminology in the preparation of documentation of medical records; ability to interpret various rules, policies and regulations pertaining to residential rehabilitation treatment programs; knowledge of basic cleaning methods and materials to help maintain a hygienic environment, as well as, hygiene and infection control methods; general knowledge of fire safety, emergency and disaster procedures. There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level. 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. Education Additional Information 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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for 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. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.