Housekeeping Aid

Summary

The Environmental Services Technician - Housekeeping Aid is located in the Environmental Management Services service line of the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS). Environmental Sanitation Operation ensures that the facility will be maintained in a state of physical and biological cleanliness and appearance.

Duties

30 Day Hiring Model The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration. Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager. Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer. Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions. After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Infection Prevention Follows the Veterans Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC) transmission precautions recommendations for, entering and exiting and cleaning/disinfecting isolation rooms. Demonstrates required procedures for cleaning and disposing of blood or body spills. Cleaning and Disinfection Cleans and disinfects Medical/Surgical Units (Occupied and Unoccupied), Intensive Care Units, Coronary Care, Pulmonary Care, Hemodialysis, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Operating Room suites, Recovery Rooms, Clinical Laboratory and Supply Processing and Distribution, Outpatient Clinics, Specialty Clinics and Restrooms in accordance with facility policy. Removes damaged or stained linen, safely collects soiled linen, cleans, disinfects and makes bed upon patient discharge or transfer. Clean, non-critical, reusable medical equipment as assigned. Communication Greets and welcomes patients, visitors, and staff. Displays sensitivity and respect for the needs of patients, staff, and visitors. Safety Identifies potential problems or hazards impacting customer service, equipment, and/or safety. Reports any customer service, equipment, or safety problems or hazards. Disposes of hazardous materials. Waste Handling Removes solid waste on a daily basis or more frequently if needed. Cleans, disinfects, and lines waste receptacles. Floor Care Dust mops the hard floor. Wet mops the floor using the appropriate solution. Stripping, waxing, buffing, shampooing, extraction, & bonneting. Work Schedule: Sunday through Saturday - 40 hours a week with a Rotating Schedule that may include weekends, holidays, days, evenings, and nights. Days off are determined by the needs of the service. Available Shifts: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm 3:30 pm - 12:00 am (Night Shift 7.5% pay increase) 12:00 am - 8:30 am (Night Shift 10% pay increase) (More information about Night Shift Differential for Federal Wage System Employees) Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid/PD11425A

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: 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/Working Conditions: Physical Effort Incumbent is required to stand continually during the work shift and must be able to stoop, bend, walk, do some moderate lifting, climb stepladders in completing tasks such as mopping dusting, refinishing, etc. Work is manual labor requiring good physical stamina. Occasionally requires moderate to heavy lifting, pushing or pulling. Employee exercises care to avoid on-the-job injuries and utilize protective/safety devices when required. The incumbent is exposed to a tense atmosphere when working in these areas. He/she is frequently exposed to contaminated areas, skin irritations from the large variety of sanitizer/germicidal and chemicals used. Removes damaged or stained linen, safely collects soiled linen, cleans, disinfects and makes bed upon patient discharge or transfer and transports soiled linen to a designation collection point. Housekeeping Aid work in a variety of healthcare setting including but not limited to Operating Rooms, Medical Laboratories, Inpatient Medical Wards, Isolation Rooms and Emergency Department. Due the characteristics the daily functions, the Medical Supply Clerks are exposed to bloodborne pathogens or other infectious disease such as but not limited to Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile, or C. diff) or Norovirus which places the Housekeeping Aid at risk of getting a bloodborne disease, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infectious diseases. In Addition, the Housekeeping Aid uses products containing amines and quaternary ammonium compounds for >150 min/shift during the cleaning of Operating Rooms, Medical Laboratories, Inpatient Medical Wards, Isolation Rooms, Emergency Department and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME). Incumbent works indoors in well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned space. Incumbent uses cleaning solutions that may cause skin irritation.