DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

**VA HEALTHCARE NETWORK UPSTATE NEW YORK**

**Canandaigua, New York 14424**

**VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 528F-09-015**

## Opening Date: December 3, 2008 Closing Date: Until Filled

**Position:** **Health Technician**, GS-0640-5 (target 6) or 6, PD# 7755

> Permanent
>
> *If filled at the 5 level, selectee may be promoted to the 6 level
> non-competitively.*
>
> ***[Please indicate grade for which you are applying]{.underline}.***

## Salary Range: GS-5: \$29,726-38,639 per year

## GS-6 \$33,135-\$43,067 per year

**Duty Location:** National Suicide Prevention Hotline, Canandaigua VA
Medical Center, Canandaigua, NY, subject to change based on Agency needs

**Tour of Duty:** Full Time-Tour of Duty varies. Tour of Duty is subject
to change based on program needs.

**Who May Apply (Area of Consideration): Medical Center Employees and
Status Eligibles.** Current [permanent]{.underline} employees of the
Canandaigua VA Medical Center including permanent Veterans Canteen
Service Staff (after 90-days), current Federal employees serving under a
career or career conditional appointment applying for
transfer/reassignment, former Federal employees with reinstatement
eligibility, veterans who are preference eligible or who have been
separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or
more years of continuous active service or persons eligible for
non-competitive appointment under Special Authorities, such as, but not
limited to, appointment authorities for disabled veterans, veterans
recruitment authority (VRA) eligible, or severely disabled individuals.
The area of consideration has been expanded to ensure an adequate pool
of candidates.

**Relocation Expenses Authorized:** No

**Recruitment Bonus Authorizes:** No

**Number of Vacancies:** Eight (8.0)

**Duties:** This position is an integral part of the Mental Health
Crisis Hotline Program. The incumbent will administer structured
diagnostic and clinical assessment interviews; input the results of
these interviews, maintaining clinical records, documentation ensuring
regulatory compliance and compliance with good clinical practices, and
patient recruitment and retention. Will also organize and assists in the
scheduling of patient appointments, make database corrections, and work
with the clinical staff associated with the Mental Health Crisis Hotline
Program. **A copy of the complete position description is available in
Human Resources for review.**

**Basis of Rating:** All relevant information available on each
candidate, i.e., application, Official Personnel Folder, supplemental
qualifications statement, appraisals, awards, rating panel, interview,
will be used to determine the best qualified candidates

**Qualification Requirements:** GS-5 Level-one year of specialized
experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 Level. GS-6 Level-one year of
specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 Level.
*Specialized Experience-*Experience that equipped the applicant with the
particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform
successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or
related to the work of a Health Technician.

**Educational Substitution for Experience:** GS-6 Level-Four year course
of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses
related to the occupation, if required.

**Time in Grade Requirements:** Candidates must have completed a minimum
of 52 weeks in a position no lower than the GS-4 level for eligibility
at the GS-5 level and a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no lower than
the GS-5 level for eligibility at the GS-6 level. This rule may not
apply to applicants applying under the Veterans Readjustment Act or 30%
disabled authorities. These candidates, however, must still meet all
other qualification requirements.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):** Please explain how your
experience (including non-paid), education, training, job related honors
and awards indicate you meet the rating factors. All applicants should
provide clear, concise examples that show level of accomplishment or
degree to which they possess the KSA's.

1.  Knowledge and skills in psychiatric terminology, diagnostic
    categories and in the use of therapeutic interviewing techniques and
    medical record review to elicit information from veterans who may be
    experiencing psychiatric symptoms.

2.  Ability to use a variety of computer programs including Microsoft
    Office and VISTA.

3.  Ability to organize work, establish priorities, and meet deadlines,
    sometimes under stress.

4.  Ability to communicate sensitive information through multiple media
    to people from a variety of backgrounds and levels of understanding.

5.  Knowledge of treatment resources, making and prioritizing
    assignments, communicating, follow up, and evaluating the
    effectiveness of care.

You must give adequate narrative responses of work examples for each of
these KSA's so that possession of these qualifications may be adequately
determined for this position. For written responses to the rating
factors/KSA's use VA Form 5-4676a, "Employee Supplemental Qualifications
Statement" or plain paper.

You must give adequate narrative responses of work examples for each of
these KSA's so that possession of these qualifications may be adequately
determined for this position. For written responses to the rating
factors/KSA's use VA Form 5-4676a, "Employee Supplemental Qualifications
Statement" or plain paper.

**Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Employees - (1)** Must be a
current VA employee identified as displaced or surplus serving on a
career or career-conditional competitive appointment, or an excepted
service appointment without a time limit. **(2)** The vacancy is at or
below the grade level and with no greater promotion potential than the
position from which you have or may be separated. **(3)** You are found
to be well-qualified ([Well-qualified consists of experience
interpreting and applying VA regulations and standards.]{.underline}).
To be considered well-qualified you must meet the minimum education,
experience, suitability and physical requirements, including all
selective factors, where applicable, and exceed the minimum
qualifications of the position for all knowledge, skills and
abilities**.** **(4)** You must occupy a position in the same local
commuting area of the position for which you are applying. Individuals
seeking CTAP [must]{.underline} submit a copy of their Reduction in
Force (RIF) separation notice, or Certificate of Expected Separation, a
copy of most recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50B that shows
tenure and position occupied; and a copy of your most recent performance
rating of record.

**Employment Programs for People with Disabilities** are programs for
people with a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more
major life activities. You must provide documentation from a state or
Federal vocational rehabilitation office, dated within one year, which
certifies your ability to perform the duties of the position as
described in the description of duties.

**Drug Testing:** If this is a **testing designated position** (TDP)
under the VA Drug-Free Workplace Program, and if you are tentatively
selected for the position and are not now in a TDP subject to random
testing, you may be subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use
prior to final selection. Applicants who refuse to be tested will not be
selected.

**Background Investigation:** Appointment to this position is contingent
upon satisfactory completion of the required background investigation.

**Selective Service:** To be eligible for Federal employment, male
applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at the time of
appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System,
or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.

## Reasonable Accommodation: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the servicing Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

## How to Apply: Your [completed]{.underline} application must be received at the address below by the closing date of the announcement in order to receive consideration:

## Canandaigua VA Medical Center

## Human Resources Office (05)

400 Fort Hill Avenue

Canandaigua, NY 14424

***[Applicants: Please use the appropriate checklist below to ensure
that all necessary application materials for consideration are
submitted.]{.underline}***

**Current Permanent Canandaigua VA Medical Center or Rochester VA
Outpatient Center Employees** **must** submit the following:

  --- -------------------------------------------------------------------
      VA Form 5-4078;

      Written response to the rating factors/KSA's use VA Form 5-4676a,
      "Employee Supplemental Qualifications Statement" or plain paper;

      Your choice of: a resume or Optional Application for Federal
      Employment (OF-612).
  --- -------------------------------------------------------------------

**All others must** submit the following:

  --- ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
      Your choice of:  
      a resume or      
      Optional         
      Application for  
      Federal          
      Employment       
      (OF-612). If you 
      are submitting a 
      resume, it MUST  
      include the      
      following:       

                       Announcement Number.

                       Full legal name and complete mailing address.

                       Daytime as well as evening telephone numbers, including area
                       code.

                       Country of Citizenship.

                       Social Security Number.

                       For experience most relevant to the position, include name and
                       address of employer, job title, starting and ending dates (month
                       and year), average hours worked per week, supervisor's name and
                       telephone number, and a description of your duties. If the
                       position is (was) with the Federal government, state series and
                       grade or pay level. Indicate if we may contact your current
                       supervisor. Submit current or last Standard Form 50-B,
                       "Notification of Personnel Action."

                       For all colleges/universities attended, provide name, location
                       and dates of attendance. Please submit a transcript.

                       Description of training, honors, awards, recognition, license or
                       certification relevant to the position.

      Written response 
      to the rating    
      factors/KSA's    
      use VA Form      
      5-4676a,         
      "Employee        
      Supplemental     
      Qualifications   
      Statement" or    
      plain paper;     

      OF-306,          
      Declaration for  
      Federal          
      Employment. New  
      regulations      
      require that all 
      applicants for   
      federal          
      employment must  
      complete the     
      OF-306;          
      therefore,       
      application      
      materials        
      submitted        
      without this     
      form cannot be   
      processed.       

      If you are a     
      Veteran, please  
      provide a copy   
      of your DD-214   
      showing          
      **character of   
      service** --     
      Member 4 copy.   
      If you are       
      claiming         
      10-point         
      veterans'        
      preference,      
      please submit    
      the Application  
      for 10 Point     
      Veteran          
      Preference       
      (SF-15) with the 
      required         
      documentation.   

      Applicants       
      applying as      
      reinstatements   
      must also submit 
      SF-50B,          
      "Notification of 
      Personnel        
      Action,"         
      reflecting their 
      prior status.    

      Applicants must  
      complete the     
      supplemental     
      qualification    
      statement that   
      will be included 
      in the           
      application      
      package.         
  --- ---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------

**Incomplete Application Packages:** ***[Failure to submit a complete
application package prior to the close of the announcement, as stated
above, will result in your application not being rated and automatic
disqualification from consideration.]{.underline}***

**No Postage Paid Envelopes:** Applications mailed using government
postage and/or internal federal government mail systems are in violation
of VA and postal regulations will not be accepted.

**For Information Contact:** Danielle Bergman in Human Resources at
585-393-7775.

**Interviews:** Any interviews that may be conducted for this position
will use the Performance Based Interviewing (PBI) process. Further
information is available at [www.va.gov/pbi](http://www.va.gov/pbi).

**Equal Employment Opportunity:** Selection for this position will be
based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age,
gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual
orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

##