Soc Science Program Spec (Whole Health Coach)

Summary The Columbus VA is recruiting for a full time Whole Health Coach in the Pain Clinic. This position is responsible for the delivery of Whole Health Coaching and skill development of the local Medical Centers Whole Health Coach program, including provision of care through coaching and promotion and education regarding Whole Health Coaching to Veterans that are seen within the Pain Clinic. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Work with individuals and groups throughout the facility in a client-centered process to facilitate and empower the client to develop and achieve self-determined goals related to health and wellness Support clients in mobilizing internal strengths and external resources and develops self-management strategies for making sustainable, healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively managing chronic disease Enhance wellness and assist with management of chronic disease Contacts eligible participants for enrollment and explain the health coaching process Provides health coaching for Veterans in order to reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors while increasing healthy ones Conducts interventions for Veterans using one-on-one, couple, or group modalities in outpatient and inpatient settings Conducts Whole Health Facilitated Groups; participate in MOVE, smoking cessation, diabetes management, hypertension clinics, mental health, and other inpatient and outpatient groups as appropriate Provides follow-up care through telephone clinics or secure messaging between face-to-face appointments Actively guides Veterans in the exploration of core elements of personal health planning through individual and group based programs Develops treatment plans for Veterans focused on behavioral interventions based on current scientific knowledge and research that improve quality of life and reduce risk for chronic disease, or that reverse or slow progression of chronic disease Reviews current health behaviors and develops customized treatment plans with Veterans Coordinates care with Veterans treatment providers, both primary and specialty care, to ensure identified goals are consistent with best practices for treatment and management of chronic illness Utilizes motivational interviewing and health coaching techniques and processes, learned through prerequisite health coach training, to assist members in developing a realistic plan to accomplish their goals Fosters an environment of individual responsibility to maximize each Veterans ability to adhere to a lifestyle management plan Conducts outreach activities to inform Veterans and family members of available programs Provides educational opportunities for staff-including lunch and learns, grand rounds, and presentations at staff meetings-in order to promote health coaching and encourage referrals to these services Meets with external stakeholders to provide information about the Whole Health Group and individual programs and access to Veterans Collaborates with internal and external resources for supporting the Veterans Whole Health Journey by developing resource lists for well-being support within the facility and in the local community Develops and conducts onsite educational series for enrolled Veterans, family members, and VA employees to explain health coaching, including its uses and benefits Develops and distributes locally approved health education materials to identified enrolled Veterans and family members Serves on Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces specifically relating to Whole Health or Health Coaching Provides training and troubleshooting for other health coaches in health coaching administrative processes and associated supporting issues Whole Health Coach functions collaboratively to establish and improve facility-wide access to Whole health Coaching in Pain Management Team through the full spectrum of care delivery modalities, including the utilization of telehealth (e.g. TelePain services through VA Video Connect/VVC, Clinical Video Telehealth/CVT, regional Clinical Resource Hubs/CRHs). The Whole Health Coach should be integrated into the PMT for optimal effectiveness. Complete required assessments and meet all designated timelines established by PMOP Work as an integrated part of the Pain Management Clinic Actively participate in any needed or required education/training, coaching and/or mentorship opportunities as determined by PMOP Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full tome Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Soc Science Program Spec (Whole Health Coach)/PD91194O 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 Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/25/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR 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. OR 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. Minimum Qualifications for this GS-07: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational requirements, applicants must possess one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of health coaching structure, process, skills and techniques. Knowledge of ethical code and rules of conduct for health coaches. Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote wellness and those that are detrimental. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents to determine their impact on the customer service program and related support resources in the area studied in order to assist the Veteran in getting additional support or care when that is required, as well as navigate the personalized health inventory, personalized health planning, components of health and well-being, and existing VHA and community resources that support Veterans personalized health goals, as well as other health and well-being programs available at a facility or in the community to support their personal health plans. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement . OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond under graduate. Minimum Qualifications for this GS-09: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational requirements, applicants must possess one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of health coaching structure, process, skills and techniques. Knowledge of ethical code and rules of conduct for health coaches. Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote wellness and those that are detrimental. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents to determine their impact on the customer service program and related support resources in the area studied in order to assist the Veteran in getting additional support or care when that is required, as well as navigate the personalized health inventory, personalized health planning, components of health and well-being, and existing VHA and community resources that support Veterans personalized health goals, as well as other health and well-being programs available at a facility or in the community to support their personal health plans. The position requires knowledge of the issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization to determine ways to improve customer satisfaction. Interpersonal skills to present recommendations that improve patient services. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond under graduate. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants 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.