The VA New Jersey Healthcare System is recruiting (4) GS-0640-6 Health Technicians (Mental Health) at the East Orange, NJ campus. The primary purpose of the position is to perform routine clinical procedures and tasks for which the incumbent has been deemed competent that do not require the judgement of a licensed health care professional. The incumbent functions under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse and is responsible to the Nurse Manager in the assigned clinical area.

Duties

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. The incumbent functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the acute inpatient psych setting. The incumbent may be trained in new procedures within scope and then assume duties as required to support clinical operations and patient care. Duties include, but are not limited to: Patient Centered Care: The employee collaborates in a team-oriented, customer-driven, professional environment to develop new models of care that emphasize prevention, improve access and coordination of care; educate and empower patients and their families; enhance the customer experience with positive human interactions and therapeutic alliances; and promote the coordination, continuity, and integration of care. The employee demonstrates flexibility, integrity, and accountability with a work ethic that emphasizes excellence and quality. Customer confidence is enhanced by professional dress and demeanor. Other Major Duties: Clinical Activities: 90% Plans and conducts therapeutic groups including but not limited to health teaching, coping skills, and recreational activities. Utilizes therapeutic alliances and PMDB techniques to prevent and de-escalate crisis situations. Collects and reports vital sign monitoring. Collects routine and urgent specimens as directed by the Registered Nurse. Monitors behavioral patterns and reports immediately deviations from the norm which may indicate dangerous or unsafe behavior. Participates in planning and implementation of individual treatment plans with the interdisciplinary care team. The HT recognizes emergency mental health situations such as suicidal ideation and intervenes by utilizing techniques to keep the patient safe while awaiting assistance per protocol. The HT performs constant observation for high-risk patients and follows procedures to ensure safety of room environment, maintaining line of sight visual surveillance, and reporting changes in patient behavior to the RN. Escorts patients to procedures and appointments as needed. Performs video surveillance monitoring (TMO) for up to 12 veterans. Performs other duties as assigned. Administrative Activities: 10% Schedules procedures, provider evaluations, and coordinates appointments with other services. Documents treatments and procedures that they have conducted in the electronic medical record. Orders and maintains specialized supplies needed for equipment and instruments used in assigned unit. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30PM. Tour/Schedule to be determined by Supervisor. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Mental Health)/PD2519A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/28/2023. 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. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology Skill taking vital sign measurements, documenting deviations, and reporting results and recovery-oriented care Knowledge of behavioral crisis situations and how to assist in the performance of rescue measures Ability to assist patients safely, including patient handling Knowledge of infection control practices Knowledge of behavioral restraints, including application and safety considerations Knowledge of Direct Line of Sight procedures knowledge of electronic medical records, patient identification procedures, and information security Preferred Experience: 1+ years acute mental health experience, psychology or related degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementTechnical CompetenceTechnical Problem Solving 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: The work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of reagents. The work requires the handling of moderately heavy contaminated waste up to 40 lbs. The incumbent will utilize all safety practices and equipment required by accrediting and regulatory agencies for purposes of ensuring compliance with occupational safety observance. 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 VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Allysa Getman
• Phone: 680-332-5685
• Email: [email protected]