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Program Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Battle Creek VA Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is hiring a Program Support Assistant to support the administrative functions within the Psychology Service.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
02/02/2023 to 02/24/2023
Salary
$42,022 to - $53,224 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Battle Creek, MI
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSR-11824962-23-AP
Control number
704172200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (COVID-19 - VA 005) in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).

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Duties

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Major duties of this position include but are not limited to:
OFFICE SUPPORT 40 percent

  • The incumbent receives all telephone calls and visitors for the Chief.
  • The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of agency activities including coordinating provider reviews for Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations.
  • The incumbent reviews outgoing correspondence for proper attachments or consolidating/ coordinating submittals of information. Coordinates closely with respective section heads and managers to make sure that correspondence meets the necessary format and criteria.
  • The incumbent will be responsible to compose in final forms replies to both internal and external communication. Drafts letters of acknowledgement to personnel, for special accomplishments and services provided.
  • Incumbent serves as the POC and Records Liaison for all record keeping within Psychology Service maintaining up to date and accurate accounts of all records kept for Psychology Service. Drafts and submits all disposition requests in accordance with RCS 10-1 and record liaison policies as well as properly destroying all records no longer needing kept.
  • Incumbent manages the calendars of the Chief to include the scheduling of appointments, interviews meetings, training, and travel. Serves as a back-up scheduler for the ACOS/MH. Briefs Service Chief prior to appointments or calls and provides required reference material.
  • Independently greets, interviews, and screens all telephone calls and visitors
  • Maintains daily suspense; tracks actions items, maintains spreadsheets and tracks all action items to completion.
    Is responsible for requesting, collecting, and summarizing input from clinical services for completion of surveys/reports for external agencies, drafts Medical Center responses.
  • Independently tracks, enters, maintains policies, memorandums, agendas, and minutes into automated information systems. Maintains and updates skill levels on all MS Office software
PROGRAM SUPPORT 45 percent
  • Incumbent will maintain employee educational and competency records ensuring required and proper copies of forms are included in the employee's competency folders for credentialing such as licensure, training, and CPR certificates. Maintains position and Service related regulations, directives, and other pertinent publications.
  • Incumbent Coordinates with HR staff for the receipt of all documents for new hires. Schedules candidates for in person or web-based video interviews for all vacancies related to positions within the Psychology.
  • Incumbent schedules orientation of new providers with the various number of different supervisors and VA staff that completes
  • Acts as the primary P.O.C. for the VATAS system within the service
  • Runs daily, weekly, and monthly reports which include but are not limited to: Encounter Action Required Reports, Signed and Un-Co-Signed Progress Note Reports and multiple Consult Reports.
  • Acts as a sponsor for employee USAccess cards (PIV). Coordinates with Human Resources on required appointments and documentation needed for issuing new badges when needed.
  • Serves as the Psychology Service POC for Training Management System (TMS).
  • Incumbent is responsible for ordering supplies and keeping items well stocked as needed to support the office
Customer Service 15 percent
  • Performs service recovery by liaising with patients, family members, and employees from various departments to achieve service recovery activities to include resolution of major medical disputes and concerns.
  • Researches complex complaints that span multiple service lines, departments, and coordinates/collaborates between various VA Medical Centers. Coordinates actions and responses with various Service Chiefs and VAMC's where necessary to provide satisfactory customer concern resolution. Manages the Patient Advocate Tracking System (PATS-R) for the service including reassignments and resolutions.
  • Monitors data related to patient complaints and compliments to identify trends, prepares charts, graphs, and drill down information for presentation to SERVICE CHIEF and/or facility Executive Leadership.
  • Directly liaisons with and prepares responses to White House, VISN, Office of Inspector General, and Congressional Offices related to patient complaints. Serves as the service representative to patient experience committees and boards, coordinating appropriate follow up actions from assigned tasks at various committee/board meetings.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD91801O
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

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/24/2023.

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-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:
    • Foundational knowledge of administrative principles, concepts, and practices. Paramount knowledge of office procedures and techniques involved in carrying out the work within established guidelines.
    • A foundation of administrative principles, concepts, and practices.
    • Knowledge of all Medical and Mental Health Services and their programs, proper lines of communication, and policies and procedures developed by VA and the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.
    • Excellent knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formats for preparation of correspondence and reports.
    • Skill in taking and transcribing meeting notes, as well as in operating a computer, multi-purpose IT equipment.
    • Skill in public relations and interpersonal relations.
    • Ability to plan, organize, establish priorities, and meet time constraints while working under stress and/or in pressure situations.
    • Ability to deliver oral and written presentations in a clear, concise, and logical manner.
    • Ability to review and edit all correspondence routed through the service.
    • The incumbent must possess effective interpersonal skills in order to appropriately communicate in dealing with patients, visitors, employees, top management, union officials, general public, VISN, VA Central, Regional Office and officials f rom other agencies.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Writing


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, with some light lifting and walking to other areas of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. There are no special physical qualifications, but the position involves carrying light items such as binders, reports, files and pushing of light office equipment and wheeled office furniture.

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

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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