Human Resources HR Assistant performs a variety of HR program functions in Federal Workers' Compensation. This position is assigned to the VISN HR Office and reports to a VISN Workers' Compensation Supervisor. Human Resources Assistant provides technical support and clerical assistance for the Federal Workers' Compensation Program. The incumbent serves as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor's Office of Workers Compensation Programs District Offices.

Duties

Supports technical review, analysis and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate processing of WC claims. Provides guidance and counsel to facility and VISN employees, managers and supervisors regarding their rights, responsibilities and requirements under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) immediately following the first report of work-related injury or illness. Provides authorization for medical examination and treatment to the provider of choice within 4 hours of the injury, in emergency situations when immediate treatment is required, and follows up with a completed DOL Form CA-16 (if applicable). Evaluates the disposition of each workers' compensation claim to determine whether it is necessary to transmit the claim form to OWCP or maintain it in the Employee's Medical Folder. Prepares a written statement of challenge to notify OWCP of the deficiencies when any of the five elements are not met with factual and objective evidence for review by supervisor (or designee). Evaluates all claims against the nine factors for continuation of pay and prepares a letter of controvert, as necessary for concurrence by supervisor (or designee). Monitors the medical progress and duty status of all injured workers by obtaining periodic medical reports to determine duty status or clarify medical work restrictions imposed to assist the injured worker in progressing to full duties of the pre-injury position. Reviews and interprets medical portions of less complex claims based on medical matrices and the level of disability in relationship to the work injury, considering any preexisting medical conditions and subsequent medical conditions of the injured employee. Researches medical terms, procedures, and protocol of medical treatment to effectively manage claims and to understand the impact of the injured employee's medical condition. Requires interpretation of medical evidence and terminology to analyze the medical component of the claim, ensuring medical evidence supports the claimed level of disability. Evaluates accepted condition against medical protocol for effective medical case management. Researches and provides analysis of medical billing trends. Recommend Specialist review for referral of WC cases for FECA fraud investigation of any billing improprieties or discrepancies. Reviews all cases for work capacity against case file documents and ensures all injury packets are complete and accurate. Assists with reviews of claims for dual benefits. Assists the Specialist with the medical facility's Human Resources Management Service and Fiscal Service to identify any employee status changes (for example, marriage, death, divorce, or minor children reaching maturity) that may affect compensation entitlements. Evaluates, authorizes, and approves requests for Continuation of Pay (COP), or annual and sick leave used in lieu of COP. Monitors requests for appropriate payment on a biweekly and a quarterly basis. Processes requests for compensation for periods of leave without pay (LWOP) or leave buy-back (LBB) in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. Monitors and evaluates leave related to FECA claims for accuracy of payment and resolves discrepancies. Develops and monitors light duty assignments for injured workers until they can return to their preinjury position. Assists the Specialist with identifying and coordinating permanent job offers when the injured employee is at maximum medical improvement and OWCP has determined the injured worker cannot return to their pre-injury position because they are permanently partially disabled. Reviews medical payments for all WC cases on at least a quarterly basis to ensure that charges and payments are appropriate. Notifies appropriate facility fiscal personnel when discrepancies are found in bills paid to the VA medical facility. Requests and monitors necessary corrections to case record. Coordinates and/or initiates processing of employee benefits, absences, and return to work among human resources, fiscal, and the Department of Labor. Evaluates case files to determine potential fraud, waste or abuse. Prepares complete fraud referral package for review by supervisor (or designee). May assist with OIG investigation and provides requested documentation. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: HR Assistant (Workers Compensation)/PD99960A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/02/2023. 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. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06.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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience for the GS-6 level: 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 would typically include, but are not limited to: uses initiative and works independently within the framework established by the Supervisor or Lead in carrying out recurring assignments such as obtaining, inserting, and correcting missing and incorrect data in Workers Compensation files and automated HR systems. follows established procedures or instructions that specifically describe how the work is to be done and the kind of modifications or exceptions that can be made; and refers specific problems not covered by the Supervisor's instructions or standard operating procedures to Supervisor or Lead HR Specialist for assistance and/or a decision. Specialized Experience for the GS-7 level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying, HR concepts, principles, practices, and case law sufficient to research and apply administrative decisions to analyze and craft defensible solutions to problems that are less well defined and where precedent cases and guidelines are not always directly applicable; research fact, legal precedents, and define legal and factual parameters/issues of cases; assist in preparation, maintenance, and filing of necessary documents and files. Knowledge of VA/VHA/VISN programs, missions, functions, and procedures. Basic knowledge of a wide range of workers' compensation laws, regulations, concepts, principles, practices, and methods sufficient to administer the workers' compensation program, develop and provide broad guidance to all stakeholders, conduct projects and studies, respond to less complex benefit inquiries, prepare sensitive correspondence on less complex OWCP cases for the organizations and observe the agency in external matters with OWCP, hearing officers and other Federal agencies. Basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods with ability to perform less complex problem-solving in the employee benefits/workers' compensation program and the legal framework in which the program operates. Ability to interpret guidelines and regulations. Basic knowledge of the mission, organization, and work processes of agency programs and their relationship to personnel processes, operations, objectives, and policies. Assignments include assisting with developing guidance on techniques for management and methods improvement; and assisting with the development of manuals covering the administrative aspects of field station operations. Functional knowledge in the areas of EEO and MSPB laws and regulation. Basic knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide variety of workers' compensation, benefits entitlements, health and insurance programs operations and systems; knowledge of relevant analytical and evaluation methodologies. Ability to establish and maintain sound working relationships with organizational leaders, supervisors and managers to provide effective and comprehensive management advisory services and training on the program. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administrative LawCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: Performance of the incumbent's duties often require extensive sedentary placement at a computer terminal. The work performed is of a precise nature requiring long periods of concentration that is often interrupted. Incumbent is often faced with changing priorities and with meeting deadlines. Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the employee or others. Position requires standing for extended periods of time and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel to meet with representatives/stakeholders in clinics, medical centers, and VISN offices who provide assistance and support to the overall mission. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. 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.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 19 Human Resources 4100 E MISSISSIPPI AVENUE SUITE 1100 Denver, CO 80246-3056 US
• Name: Andre Suber
• Email: [email protected]