Health and Wellness Coach

Summary

Health and Wellness Coaches provide services to Veterans seeking self-directed - lasting changes aligned with their values. They provide support that promotes health and enhances well-being - which may support improved health related outcomes - and quality of life.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship
• Education and/or Experience
• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position
• Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field
• Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field
• Certification
• Candidates must be currently certified by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
• Exception for Non-Certified Health and Wellness Coaches
• (a) Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification - may be given a temporary appointment as Health and Wellness Coach under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• (b) Non-certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Health and Wellness Coach at or above the full performance level or other designated occupation with the appropriate training and expertise
• (c) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted until certification is obtained
• (d) Temporary appointments of non-certified Health and Wellness Coaches may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• (e) Failure to Obtain Certification
• In all cases - Health and Wellness Coaches must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of their placement into the occupation
• At the time of appointment - the Human Resources (HR) Office staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health and Wellness Coaches with the written requirement to obtain certification - the date by which the certification must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency
• Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including certification
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re entry to the occupation
• (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic or assignment specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements
• Grade Determinations: GS-7 Health and Wellness Coach
• (1) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques
• Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally
• GS-9 Health and Wellness Coach
• (1) Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-7*).*Examples of experience at the GS-7 include - but are not limited to: Conduct interventions using one-on-one - couple or group modalities in outpatient and inpatient settings using multiple formats (face to-face - telephone - virtual - etc.) in order to reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors while increasing/promoting a positive lifestyle (habits and behaviors) resulting in increased well-being
• facilitate development of personalized health plans focused on behavioral interventions based on current scientific knowledge and research
• equip and empower individuals to live their lives to the fullest by improving quality of life across the lifespan that reduces risk for chronic disease - reverses or slows progression of chronic disease and increases the sense of well-being at the end of life
• These plans include person-centered customized goals - action steps and interventions developed by the individual and include input from other members of the health care team
• Knowledge of health and wellness coaching processes and techniques
• Ability to promote positive lifestyle choices
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing through a variety of modalities
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally/non-verbally
• (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness - including behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being
• Skill in using health and wellness coaching techniques to promote positive behavior change using one-on-one - couple or group modalities
• Skill in exercising effective interpersonal communication techniques to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships
• Ability to assist the client in developing a comprehensive personalized health plan based on a patient's action-oriented goals
• Ability to identify resources internal and external to the organization that are necessary for achieving patient overall health and well-being goals
• Ability to use information technology (IT) equipment and various/emerging technologies to carry out work responsibilities
• Ability to document patient information using appropriate systems
• Preferred Experience: 2 years experience - preferred previous experience working in clinical setting
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-09
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09
• Physical Requirements: See Additional information section.

Duties

• Health and Wellness Coaches provide services to Veterans seeking self-directed - lasting changes aligned with their values
• They provide support that promotes health and enhances well-being - which may support improved health related outcomes - and quality of life
• Health and Wellness Coaches work with individuals on identifying their motivation for change - determining goals for their work together - developing sustainable action steps toward achieving their short- and long-term goals - implementing action plans - and assessing progress in order to adjust plans as necessary
• Health and Wellness Coaches provide support to positively influence the relationship between lifestyle and health outcomes
• They guide the exploration of behaviors that may increase the risk of developing or worsening chronic disease and those that reduce the likelihood of chronic illness
• Health and Wellness Coaches may collaborate with Veterans and Veterans' primary care and specialty care treatment providers to develop goals designed to improve health and well-being - reduce impact from chronic illness and lessen the likelihood of admission to the emergency department - inpatient care or long-term care
• - Provides health coaching to individuals or groups in outpatient and inpatient settings using multiple formats (face-to-face - telephone - virtual - etc.) in order to increase/promote a positive lifestyle (habits and behaviors)
• - Support Veterans in fostering internal strengths and external resources to develop self-directed strategies for making personalized - sustainable - healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively manage chronic disease
• - Collaborates with interdisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff and teams throughout the VA health care system on a Veteran-centered process to facilitate and empower Veterans to develop and achieve self-determining goals related to health and well-being and that align with what matters most or their mission - aspiration - or purpose
• - Utilizes motivational interviewing - coaching theories - and coaching techniques to assist clients in accomplishing their action steps and goals
• - Within the coaching process - addresses appropriate social and structural determinants of health
• - Provides education around health and wellness coaching services - evidence - and research - Follow national Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation guidance and VHA policy relevant to health and wellness coaching
• - Utilizes a coaching process model that aligns with NBHWC standards
• - Ensures Veterans are aware of what to expect when engaging in coaching
• - Connects Veterans with wellbeing services when they are in service of the Veteran's self-identified wellness goals
• - Documents coaching encounters in alignment with local and national guidance
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday
• 7:30AM-4:00PM
• Telework: Available
• Ad Hoc
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 99326-S - 99325-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized .Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.