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The primary purpose of the position is to provide administrative and customer service support for the VA hospital food service program. The incumbent performs routine duties that require exceptional customer service, computer skills, proper phone etiquette, proficiency in special food service and therapeutic diet procedures, a broad knowledge of routine modified diets, combinations of diet modifications and knowledge of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Dietetics software and required functions
11/18/2020 to 12/09/2020
$34,916 - $45,393 per year
GS 5
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Competitive
5
No
Yes
CBST-10966270-21-AR
584813300
ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (COVID-19 - VA 002) in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).
Enters food allergies, diet tolerances and religious and/or cultural food restrictions into computer after consulting with appropriate dietitian. Enters selections into the Computrition computer program for tray ticket processing or via the room service package for areas served by select menu.
Facilitates the appropriate and timely implementation of diet orders and food request. Assures patients with Nothing by Mouth-Nil Per Os (NPO) orders have trays pulled before meal delivery.
Prints reports according to procedures including meal service history report, birthday list, diet activity reports, patient roster, NPO list, tally guides, special services lists, and nourishments. Prints nourishment and tube-feeding labels for nourishment personnel.
Provides training to same or lower-grade employees on responsibilities within Health Technician or Program Support positions when asked by supervisor.
Assures the completion of tray delivery, late trays, nourishments, tube feedings and boxed meals, if needed.
Knowledge of sanitation principles to safeguard food against spoilage and waste, such as knowledge of the temperature range where the potential of bacterial growth in food is greatest.
Checks trays on the central tray line for accuracy during meal service and conducts other tray line activities as assigned. Works closely with the tray line loader to assure correct loading of trays into the retherm cart.
Ensures that patients receive the proper food items in the correct amount.
Interviews patients for religious and/or cultural food preferences, dislikes, allergies, intake appetite, chewing or swallowing problems.
Adjusts tray tickets, nourishments or supplemental feedings via computer after discussion with dietitian or dietetic technician.
Communicates any significant day-to-day events and information including proposed solutions and follow-up to immediate supervisor and/or food service supervisors.
Coordinates the late tray procedure with tray line staff, work leaders, and/or supervisors to assure that patients and residents receive their trays within a timely manner.
Monitors consumption and use of bulk nourishments on a regular basis and notifies appropriate staff if changes in par level are needed.
Assists patients and residents in the menu selection process.
Visits, calls or sees appropriate patients and residents to obtain meal solutions.
Observes patient during meal service and based on their acceptance and to compliance to the diet, determines food intake and tolerance.
Refers staff, patient, or family members to the appropriate source if unable to answer questions within knowledge base or limits of assigned duties.
Displays tact and diplomacy with peers, staff, patients and patients' families at all times. Works cohesively with Nursing personnel to answer and/or resolved problems.
Work Schedule: 5:30am - 2:00pm or 11:00 am - 7:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Dietetic)/ 99855-A
Physical Requirements: The work requires walking, standing, bending, lifting and carrying of light items, such as food trays, instruction materials, books, and manuals. NCC Associate functions require long periods of sitting and moving about in an office environment, including repetitive motion activities of the hands and fingers for extensive keyboard and computer mouse use, and office tasks such as answering and holding a telephone phone and writing. The work may require walking indoors, outdoors or to and from other areas of the medical center. It may be necessary to lift and/or push equipment. Incumbent is subject to periods
continuous standing, sitting, walking and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. Frequently lifts or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds and pushing loaded carts of trays and/or nourishments.
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.
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 is not authorized for telework.
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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.
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.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be accessed in the order in which the applications were received and select any qualified applicant in that order.
Documents Accepted:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/09/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10966270.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/584813300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (COVID-19 - VA 002) in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).
