Health Technician (Domiciliary)

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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/20/2026. 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

Duties

• 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
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 7:30pm rotating Panama tour including weekends/holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Domiciliary)/PD01161A 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.