Housekeeping Aid

Duties

The Housekeeping Aid executes a full range of housekeeping activities in patient and non-patient care areas. The position may be assigned to any tour and may be required to work in various designated areas during any tour of duty. Typically, the position works independently with general supervision, or works with a team and is responsible for the full-range of cleaning duties in an assigned area throughout the medical facility. These duties include, but are limited to the following: Performs floor maintenance, wall washing. Cleans doors, doorframes, baseboard corners and edges, and stairwells. Tasks are accomplished by sweeping, dust mopping, damp and wet mopping, scrubbing, stripping, refinishing, buffing, vacuuming and extracting carpets and runners, spot cleaning areas, and high and low dusting. Periodically utilizes pressure washers and heavy industrial powered and battery operated equipment the above task. Adjusts, cleans, and performs minor maintenance on this equipment and changes attachments for their proper use in achieving the best results. Empties trash and wastebaskets, replaces liners. Transports general refuse, regulated medical waste and recycling to central collection areas. Cleans rest rooms, bathrooms, and shower rooms, ensuring that they are cleaned and meet acceptable standards (cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes lavatories, showers, bathtubs, urinals, and toilet bowls; cleans mirrors, sinks, and water fountains; washes and polishes light and toilet fixtures).Replenishes supplies of paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and soap in all areas where dispensers are located. Moves and arranges furniture, patient wardrobes, beds, etc. in the assigned area to accomplish cleaning tasks. Provides bed-making services in patient care areas and OD rooms; cleans mattresses, springs, and bed frames; and cleans bedside stands, over bed lights, blood pressure cuffs, bed tables, etc. in patient rooms; Removes bags of soiled textiles from patient rooms and transports to the designated soiled room in each ward area; Loads and unloads clean textiles from bulk carts. Restocks clean textile closets, cabinets, shelves, carts, and participates in inventory management activities. Defrosts and cleans patient care refrigerators and ice machines in nourishment kitchen areas; cleans stainless steel on storage instrument cabinets and counters, elevators in lobbies, wards, diet-kitchens and nurse utility rooms; and cleans ashtrays, smoke stands, sand urns in designated smoke areas and water fountains; Provides interim cleaning of windows and window ledges from the inside, cleans glass door and other glass surfaces; and replaces curtains and cleans blinds. Cleans and/or replaces needle boxes. Periodically cleans specific non-critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in inpatient and clinical areas of the medical center. Additionally, the position may work with and provide guidance to a Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) worker, and perform other duties as assigned.
All other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: To be determined when hired
Physical Requirements: The position demands continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing. The work requires the occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial type buffers) weighing over 50 pounds. The duties necessitate considerable dexterity, hand, foot, and eye coordination, and concentration as well as visual acuity to see dirt, dust and debris. Work is normally performed indoors with adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Some work may be performed outdoors where there may be exposed to varying degrees of heat and cold as well as inclement weather. PPE may be required in some circumstance as exposure to possible contagious diseases, blood and bloody secretion are inherent to this position. Care is required to avoid serious injuries (i.e. broken bones) when working on ladders, or when using 30-100-pound power equipment or handling hazardous materials.
Position Description Title/PD#:Housekeeping Aid/PD99909S

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of a variety of special cleaning and sanitizing solutions to remove different kinds of stains from a variety of surfaces. Ability to operate, adjust, and clean heavy power cleaning equipment: and to use common cleaning tools and lightweight cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners, buffers, and floor scrubbers.
Knowledge of infection control and hazardous waste procedures in addition to proper sequences of tasks to remove soiled and contaminated textiles, needle boxes, and body fluid spills. Needs to understand the process of handling biohazardous waste.
Knowledge of standard infection prevention practices and protective items (e.g., hand washing, protective gloves, coveralls, facemasks and shields and respirators, gowns, head and foot coverings).
Performs a full range of deep cleaning duties and special cleaning tasks in accordance with established housekeeping and aseptic techniques. Mental concentration is necessary to plan, schedule and accomplish work on own initiative. Deviation from routine schedules is frequent to prevent interruption of the patient care activities.
Possesses good interpersonal skills (cheerful, congenial, and caring) due to working in close proximity to patients.
Ability to read and write and do simple math to accurately record the waste and laundry handling process.
Ability to identify the different types of medical, non-medical, biohazardous, hazardous, and normal hazardous wastes to carry out his/her duties.
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
May serve a probationary period.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  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.

  Review our 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.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  Documents Accepted:
  

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • PCS Orders
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

  
  Documents Required:
  

  • Resume

  
  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.

• How to Apply

  All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
  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 03/21/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12346633.
  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.

  Agency contact information

  Lisa Wood

  Phone

  607-346-2497

  Fax

  607-664-4930

  Email

  Lisa.Wood1@va.gov

  Address

  Syracuse VA Medical Center
  800 Irving Ave
  Syracuse, NY 13210
  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.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.