Program Support Assistant

Summary

The position of Program Support Assistant is located within the Medical Foster Horne (MFH) Program and Community Residential Care (CRC) Program within Social Work Service. MFH and CRC are specialized programs which provide interdisciplinary health care to Veterans who are unable to live independently, but prefer an assisted living facility or a home like setting for their long-term care. The incumbent works closely with the Home-Based Primary Care Interdisciplinary Treatment Team.

Duties

Duties of this position include but are not limited to: The Program Support Assistant acts as liaison between patients and medical center staff, serving as consumer advocate. The Program Support Assistant accepts telephone calls from patients/caregivers, MFH staff in the field, other VA staff, and/or community agency staff, regarding program inquiries, patient care concerns, etc. He/she obtains as much information as possible, provides information and resolves problems independently when possible, prioritizes, and makes decisions regarding caller referral based on specific caller needs. The incumbent ensures timely clinical response to patients/callers that Potentially have an emergent or urgent care need through prompt identification of the problem and appropriate clinical referral. Interacts with customers, family members, visitors and co-workers in a courteous, tactful, helpful manner, exercising mature judgment and diplomacy. Composes correspondence as indicated to assist with clinical functions of MFH staff. Composes reports and meeting minutes as directed by MFH Program Coordinator. Uses computer programs to type all recurring correspondence, minutes, and reports, maintaining computer files easily accessible by other team members. He/she is the primary purchase card holder and fund control clerk for the program. As the fund control clerk and purchase card holder, the incumbent must have knowledge of and demonstrate the ability to perform duties related to fiscal responsibilities concerning the purchase card, ordering merchandise, shipping and receiving, inventory, advanced budgeting, contracting, vendors, entering data and reconciling. Makes and tracks all purchases by frequent communication with vendors, contractors and program coordinator and Fiscal Service. These, along with additional fiscal duties as assigned must be fulfilled by an individual who is detailed, accurate and accountable. Corrects errors in team data entries of workload (telephone and visit) encounters. He/she schedules the patient in the program. Obtains hard copy patient records from VA Health information Management Section, or from the private sector as requested by home care staff, prints assessments and treatment plans for MFH team treatment planning meetings, and maintains accessible hard copy files of the assessments and treatment plans for use in case of computer failure. The Program Support Assistant keeps up-to-date with regulation that concerns eligibility for care and control of medical records. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD089440 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements

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 is primary sedentary, but does require some walking, standing, carrying paper items, books, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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, 08/25/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience with general office duties such as arranging meetings, providing administrative support to a team, composing correspondence, preparation and maintenance of personnel forms. Experience with setting goals and priorities within the organization, administrative policy/procedures, and recurring reports. Experience performing a variety of computerized office duties using electronic mail, desktop publishing, calendar, and several different database programs such as Microsoft Office. Experience with maintaining the confidentiality and security of health information in compliance with relevant privacy laws and regulations. Experience with managing procurement procedures to acquire office goods and services, reconciling accounts, and facilitating fund transfers. Experience managing timekeeping and attendance records. Have a high degree of skill in oral and written communications. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) years of education above high school level in any field which high school graduation or the equivalent is a pre-requisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university. Note: Transcripts are required. 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 the second year of first 60 semester hours and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. Note: Transcripts are required.. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's 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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the order in which applications are received. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Other 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.