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Health Technician (Domiciliary)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The position is in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) that provides extended care to Veterans for mental health needs, substance abuse treatment, Compensated Work Therapy (CWT), and homelessness. Incumbent works all shifts including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis. The Health Technician performs both clinical and administrative duties in support of the mission of the MHRRTP.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/31/2025 to 01/08/2026
Salary
$45,409 to - $59,031 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Big Spring, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position, including transporting Residents to authorized community integration programs/facilities and medical appointments
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12858247-26-JG
Control number
853453600

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 (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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Duties

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Responsible for developing and maintaining a therapeutic professional helping relationship with Residents admitted to the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) . Provides orientation to new Residents by explaining MHRRTP policies/procedures, treatment expectations and goals. Interviews each Resident to assess skills associated with activities of daily living, leisure and work interests, personal hygiene, interpersonal communication, etc. Maintains close contact with Residents to ensure that their behavior and social adjustments are satisfactory.

Provides crisis intervention in situations of a medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral emergency. Utilizes independent judgment to promptly assesses the situation and initiates appropriate action to secure medical care or police assistance to maintain a safe environment for both staff and residents.

Monitors Residents compliance with MHRRTP rules and regulations and communicates concerns with the clinical staff and documents appropriately (e.g., actions) in the electronic medical record. Responsible for reporting on station and off station injuries, adverse events, near misses, or abuse of any Residents to their immediate supervisor and submitting a Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPSR).

In the case of unconscious Residents, initiates basic cardiac life support utilizing Basic Life Support (BLS), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED). Transports laboratory specimens to the facility laboratory as needed. Coordinates transportation of Residents with MHRTTP clinical staff and Program Manager in a safe and appropriate manner to authorized community integration programs/facilities and medical appointments.

Incumbent is responsible for ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all Residents and staff to include housekeeping and sanitation, security safety, repair and maintenance of rooms, ramps, and areas surrounding the buildings. Makes daily inspections to check health, safety, and security problems. Initiates appropriate corrective action including work orders or calling for emergency repairs and ensures MHRRTP Manager is notified.

May serve as the keycard system administrator.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Rotating shifts (including weekends & holidays)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual/remote position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Domiciliary) / PDHA519-01161-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Valid driver's license
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/08/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirements
Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

AND

GS-6 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 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. Specialized experience includes: general knowledge of medical diagnoses/conditions; general knowledge of mental health diagnoses/conditions; general knowledge of alcohol and drug dependence and the rehabilitation process; general knowledge of the aging process and its effects upon Resident's level of functioning; ability to operate the AED and perform BLS/CPR; Knowledge of medical terminology for use in preparation of documentation for Residents' electronic medical record; Knowledge of and skill in utilizing a computer to perform data entry and retrieval of information; Knowledge of infection control methods and universal precaution to maintain a healthy and infection free living area; Knowledge of fire safety, emergency and disaster procedures to provide guidance to Residents and other staff; and knowledge of sanitation methods, materials and techniques, and ability to implement them to maintain a clean environment.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-6 level.

Physical Requirements: Work is carried out in a 24/7 residential treatment setting serving a population of male and female Veterans ranging from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing, twisting, climbing stairs, climbing ladders, simple grasping, reading above shoulder. Transferring patients and/or objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don PPE. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative due to psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities and use good judgement based on residents' needs. Conditions may also include heat, cold, excess humidity, work with chemicals, dust, noise, driving a vehicle, fire manipulation.

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

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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. 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.

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 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/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Clerical
  • Customer Service
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Self Management

USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

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