Health and Wellness Coaches provide services to Veterans seeking self-directed, lasting changes aligned with their values. They provide support that promotes health and enhances well-being, which may support improved health related outcomes, and quality of life. Health and Wellness Coaches provide support to positively influence the relationship between lifestyle and health outcomes.

Duties

Employees at this grade level serve as Health and Wellness Coaches at the full performance level. Health and Wellness Coaches use behavioral change theories (e.g., motivational interview and trans-theoretical model) and tools to assist individuals in the process of health coaching. They provide interventions that promote health and wellness and enhance well-being (i.e., what matters to the individual), improve health related outcomes, reduce likelihood of inpatient admission and improve quality of life across the continuum of care in all settings. Health and Wellness Coaches foster an environment that equips and empowers each individual to develop and fully engage in a lifestyle management plan. Facilitates the development of personalized health plans that emphasize self-care in combination with conventional treatment plans that include individualized intervention strategies to help the client use existing skills and develop new ones to enhance success. Provides information on the relationship between lifestyle and health outcomes, exploring behaviors that increase the risk of developing or worsening chronic disease and those that reduce the likelihood of chronic illness. Responsible for guiding individuals to learn about available support tools and resources outside of healthcare (e.g., social determinants of health) in the community that assist in attainment of goals. Contacts eligible participants for enrollment and explain the health coaching process. Develops and distribute locally approved health education materials based on national guidance to patients and family members that are in line with the patient's personalized health plan. Responsible for conducting outreach activities directly to potential participants and internal and external referral sources informing them of available programs and services. Coordinates care with patients' treatment providers including primary care, specialty care and mental health to ensure identified goals are aligned with the overall plan of care around what matters most to the individual. Provides health coaching support to multidisciplinary groups whose purpose is to address specific health and well-being goals or metrics in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Uses applicable IT equipment, systems and software to maintain accurate, complete, current and confidential medical records in accordance with accepted standards. May assist with data management analyses, special studies and reports for use by management for budget preparation, workload projections and quality assurance and usage reviews. Participates in quality improvement projects and refine information for comprehensive reports addressing elements such as patient reported outcome measures, work measurement, trend analysis, efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Develops individualized health and wellness group curriculum and/or provide input into curriculum developed by higher-level management. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30-4:00 Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 99325S, 99326S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education and/or Experience. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. Certification. Candidates must be currently certified by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including certification. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Health and Wellness Coach, GS-07 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques. Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices. Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities. Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally. Health and Wellness Coach, GS-09. Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed which include: Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques. Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices. Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities. Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally. AND In addition to the experience above, candidates must fully demonstrate the following KSA's. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being. Skill in using health and wellness coaching techniques to promote positive behavior change using one-on-one, couple or group modalities. Skill in exercising effective interpersonal communication techniques to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships. Ability to assist the client in developing a comprehensive personalized health plan based on a patient's action-oriented goals. Ability to identify resources internal and external to the organization that are necessary for achieving patient overall health and well-being goals. Ability to use information technology (IT) equipment and various/emerging technologies to carry out work responsibilities. Ability to document patient information using appropriate systems. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9. Physical Requirements: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending, occasional lifting (no more than 35 lbs.) or prolonged sitting with occasional visits to areas within the service as well as throughout the Medical Center.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Tennessee Valley HCS - Nashville 1310 24th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 US
• Name: Davita Foushee Pugh
• Phone: 843-739-7502
• Email: [email protected]