Program Support Assistant

Summary This Social Work & Community Based Service (SW&CBS) Program Support Assistant (PSA) position is located within Social Work and Community Based Service and is supervised by the Administrative Officer. The primary purpose and responsibilities of this position are to provide expert technical program support and administrative clerical duties to the various programs with-in the service and Main Social Work Office operations. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIESTechnical Program Duties: 65% Under general supervision, the Program Support Assistant (PSA) is responsible for the submission of all statistical and administrative reports or data from their designated assignment area with the aforementioned programs. This may include data research and entry, program reports, patient lists, accounting and budgetary duties and ongoing responsibility for projects. problems. or requirements that arise within their designated work site. The work will be performed in a timely, professional and courteous manner to sustain quality patient care and customer satisfaction. Responsible to operate all necessary applications within FBCS, CPRS and VistA (including but not limited to VistA FEE, Lodging, Admissions, AOD, Caregiver, TCM, MFH and Eligibility Computer Systems as well as ability to work with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Power Point, SharePoint and Excel Spreadsheets). Will assess the dimension, consequences, and impact of the assigned work and thus prioritize, collect, and assemble the necessary facts, resolving conflicts, and performs these functions independently. Creativity in the development of procedures where no guidelines exist may be necessary; will identify these irregularities in the course of the work and reconcile those problems . Educate Veterans and family members of Veterans on benefits, eligibilities alternative lodging and other available programs with in the Service. Issue discount letters for non-eligible or families, meal vouchers as appropriate by policy. Monitor and ensure external supporting services goals are met i.e. dietary, housekeeping, logistics, respiratory and voluntary to complement our systems or services. Resolve problems with office equipment malfunctions, obtaining JRM, Engineering, copier/fax technician, or Facilities Management support as indicated. Assigned as an authorized user of the Government Purchase Card for small item purchasing in their designated site and section. As an authorized user of this card the incumbent is responsible for meeting the standards for documentation and monthly reconciliation of the purchase cards in accordance with all rules and regulations. Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC) liaison, responsible for systems administration within the service and will provide guidance and assistance to clinical staff within the service. Conduct training for new employees as to the administrative requirements of their jobs in the program, i.e., function, documentation, clinic encounters. etc. Customer Services: 10% Works with a patient population ranging from age 18 through senior adults (age 65 and over) and must be aware of, and respond appropriately to the physical, social, and psychological differences among these groups. Communicate effectively with patients, patient's family or caregiver, clinical staff, and hotel contractors in person or by telephone in order to assess the Veteran's needs. Take messages; track call-ins/call-off by other staff members, and notify the appropriate supervisor, they will assess Veterans' needs, assist with the Veteran's situation or redistribute to the appropriate manager, social worker, department, patient advocate, etc. Handle consult requests expeditiously or assign to the respective social worker as they are received in the service and log them into the tracker. Working with the clinical unit/providers, the PSA will ensure Veterans are screened and approved appropriately prior to social services being rendered. Files, Correspondences and Records Management 25% Obtain, organize, file and retrieve reports, correspondence, and numerical data for use in preparing status reports, briefings, and presentations i.e. daily AOD log, gain and losses sheets, lodging lists and admission reports, medical records etc. in accordance with all Federal, VA and local policy and guidance. Responsible for the administrative handling of all records, forms and documents, retrieval and dissemination of data relating for the programs listed above. Type, edit, maintain current copies of records or forms relating to the program such as letters, memos, reports and summaries, surveys, program brochures, letters of introduction, and other types of written communications. Compose correspondence; prepare agendas and meeting minutes as indicated to assist clinical functions of as the need arises. Print daily roster of Veterans when necessary, maintain a weekly list of scheduled CNH Veteran VA medical center appointments and arrange travel consults to meet the appointments. The PSA will perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD938910 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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, 10/22/2026. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing administrative support to a team, including but not limited to time keeping, receiving and screening phone calls, filing, taking minutes, arranging travel, maintaining appointment calendars, coordinating meetings, conference calls, and ordering supplies. Using various Microsoft Office programs, database programs and office equipment. Assisting in departmental problem solving and planning alternative solutions. Preparing reports, assisting in planning, reviewing and reporting data, and statistical results. 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 sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items (medical records, computing devices, manuals, papers, books, small parts). The work requires manual dexterity for computer data entry, office machine operation and filing. However, in general, the work does not require unusual physical demands. The work does require emotional stability to resolve crisis situations. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: 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. For further information, visit: 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 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. 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