Housekeeping Aid

Duties Summary

This position is located within the Environmental Management Services Division of a VA Medical Center. This position is under the direct supervision of the Housekeeping Supervisor or designee. This position performs both janitorial and custodial services. Work is regularly performed by hand and with light and heavy-powered (industrial-type) cleaning equipment.

Wage Grade 2 Salary Ranges by Location:

• Sioux Falls, SD: $12.89 - $15.02
• Fargo, ND: $12.99 - $15.17

*additional pay may apply

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Responsibilities

The Housekeeping Aid executes a full range of housekeeping activities in patient and non-patient care areas. The position may be assigned to any tour and may be required to work in various designated areas during any tour of duty. Typically, the position works independently with general supervision, or works with a team and is responsible for the full-range of cleaning duties in an assigned area throughout the medical facility. These duties include, but are limited to the following:

• Performs floor maintenance, wall washing. Cleans doors, doorframes, baseboard corners and edges, and stairwells. These duties include use of commercial and heavy industrial powered equipment.
• Empties trash and wastebaskets, replaces liners.
• Cleans rest rooms, bathrooms, and shower rooms, ensuring that they are cleaned and meet acceptable standards (cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes lavatories, showers, bathtubs, urinals, and toilet bowls; cleans mirrors, sinks, and water fountains; washes and polishes light and toilet fixtures).Replenishes supplies of paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and soap in all areas where dispensers are located.
• Moves and arranges furniture, patient wardrobes, beds, etc. in the assigned area to accomplish cleaning tasks.
• Provides bed-making services in patient care areas and OD rooms; cleans mattresses, springs, and bed frames; and cleans bedside stands, over bed lights, blood pressure cuffs, bed tables, etc. in patient rooms.
• Removes bags of soiled textiles from patient rooms and transports to the designated soiled room in each ward area; Loads and unloads clean textiles from bulk carts. Restocks clean textile closets, cabinets, shelves, carts, and participates in inventory management activities.
• Defrosts and cleans patient care refrigerators and ice machines in nourishment kitchen areas; cleans stainless steel on storage instrument cabinets and counters, elevators in lobbies, wards, diet-kitchens and nurse utility rooms; and cleans ashtrays, smoke stands, sand urns in designated smoke areas and water fountains.
• Provides interim cleaning of windows and window ledges from the inside, cleans glass door and other glass surfaces; and replaces curtains and cleans blinds.
• Cleans and/or replaces needle boxes.
• Periodically cleans specific non-critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in inpatient and clinical areas of the medical center.

Work Schedule: Various full-time day and night shifts may be available depending on the duty location chosen, and may include weekends and holidays. The specific available shift will be communicated during an interview or at the time of job offer.

Position Description Title/PD#: Housekeeping Aid/Fargo PD# 40102A; Sioux Falls PD# 80264A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for Fargo, ND
Recruitment Incentive: Authorized for Sioux Falls, SD
Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

None

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 a background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

**This is an Open Continuous Announcement to establish a standing register of qualified and eligible candidates to refer as vacancies occur. Referral lists will be created as vacancies become available. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement.**

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2020.

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:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Follow Directions
• Handle Weights and Loads
• Special Aptitude - Housekeeping Work
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

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: Employee must be able to handle weights of up to 20 -50 pounds in dealing with heavy trash and linen, as well as products such as stripper/finish etc. that comes in large, heavy containers. Employee must push, pull, load and unload carts; bend, stoop, twist and tum with moderate effort; climb ladders to change cubical curtains, clean out light fixtures, and clean windows, etc; and must be able to fit and kneel in small spaces to clean, i.e. restroom stalls and other tight areas. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between contaminated/dirty environments to clean environments; and is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The employee often works around body fluids, excretions, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while cleaning or removing trash for disposal. Chemicals used can be caustic and frequently have strong odors. Potential for splash hazard, cuts, sticks, bumping and bruising exists from normal work. The work area can be noisy due to the rumbling of carts and operation of equipment. Work is generally conducted in heated and air-conditioned areas, however staff must go outside to empty trash in dumpsters in all types of inclement weather.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.