AddressSummary The Domiciliary Assistants are responsible for up to 220 patients throughout their tour of duty. Majority of the patients served are being treated for substance abuse. Performs clerical/assistant work in support of the care and treatment provided to patients in a ward, clinic, or other such unit of a medical facility, such as receiving patients, maintaining patient files, and operating the domiciliary living units. Responsibilities Supports the operation of the domiciliary living units by providing direct patient care and administrative support to domiciliary patients. Assures patient compliance with health, safety, and sanitation directives as they pertain to living quarters, treatment areas, dayrooms, etc. Identifies safety hazards and takes steps to correct immediately. Modifies and directs patient behavior and assists in therapeutic rehabilitation programs as a member of a treatment team. Prepares forms for patient activities such as pass requests, clearance " slips, Interdisciplinary Treatment Team meetings or discharge paperwork. Monitors patients and documents patient data and information about his/her apparent health, behavior, functioning, and self-report information in the patient's consolidated medical record. Monitors and directs patients on matters relating to violations of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures established by the agency and the facility. Refers all medical or psychiatric problems and emergencies or incidents of physical altercations and alcohol/drug intoxications to the Charge Nurse. Adheres to rules of confidentiality and protects patient privacy as outlined by HIPAA Regulations and Standards. Conducts twice nightly bed checks utilizing bed check sheets and follows up on patients reported absent bed check. Documents in the Domiciliary communication log and progress notes matters relating to patient care. Conducts building and domiciliary area searches for missing patients when required. Breathalyzes patients returning from authorized or unauthorized absence, and patients suspected of being intoxicated. Documents results and information in patient's medical record. Conducts walk-through rounds of patient living areas to resolve patient issues regarding safety, health, and hygiene. Conducts searches of patient locker, belongings, and furnishings when there is a reason to believe a patient has concealed a potentially harmful material or item including weapons, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs. Secures patient's locker if patient is admitted to the hospital. Secures valuables/cash in domiciliary office. NOTE: One year of experience working in a residential facility is preferred but not required. Persons selected for this position must be able to pass Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Work Schedule: Hours vary, position requires flexibility in working evenings, overnights, weekends and Holidays. Position Description Title/PD#: Domiciliary Assistant/PD05648A Physical Requirements: Primarily sedentary. There will be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts and driving an automobile. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 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 experience where you were responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of patients and/or residents; recognizing, preventing and responding to patients and/or residents who are acting as a danger to themselves or others; documenting and observing patient and/or resident behaviors; and recording patient and/or resident information into manual and/or computer logs. NOTE: 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. OR Education: Successfully completed four (4) years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. NOTE: Education must be related to the occupation and transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Driver's License Requirement: This position requires driving a government vehicle to perform the official duties of the position; therefore, a current, valid, unrestricted state-issued driver's license is required and must also pass driving physical to transport Veterans. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. 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 Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. 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. 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.
