The VA New Jersey Healthcare System is recruiting for 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.
Summary
The VA New Jersey Healthcare System is recruiting for 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.
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 Title/PD#: Health Technician (Mental Health)/PD39013A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
May serve a probationary period
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
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:
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.
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
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.
Additional information
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/28/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12365707.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
VA New Jersey Health Care System
385 Tremont Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07018
US
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/28/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12365707.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
VA New Jersey Health Care System
385 Tremont Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07018
US
Next steps
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
