competencies essay format

Job Title: Staff Assistant

Department: Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number: JP-15-HBr-1466545-BU

Knowledge Skills & Ability KSA’s

Competency 1 – Skill in applying basic to advanced analytical techniques in data gathering/analysis methods, such as standard interviewing, surveying techniques, or record reviews, to collect various types of factual and evaluative information.

Adequate and efficient data collection and analysis has a significant impact on the expected outcome. With this regard, it is crucial to ensure that the data is adequately collected and analyzed properly so as to come up with justifiable results. My abilities in data collection and analysis are outstanding. Predominantly, the major methods of data collection that I am well-versed with include interviewing, observations/ surveys, questionnaires, and sampling. In statistical data analysis, I majorly employ numerous data analysing strategies such as the use of spread sheet.

In my current job position, I conduct several research proposals and projects and analyzed a number of data sets. This, in the long run, has helped shape my data gathering and analysing techniques. Currently, I am carrying out a few research projects on the relevant issues affecting the quality of comprehensive care that is offered to Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Leadership Effectiveness in healthcare Human Resource and Patient Management.

Furthermore, I strive to provide timely and insightful information on Behavioural Health Integration Program (BHIP). BHIP requires adequate population of caseloads of providers panel in General Mental Health Clinic. Principally, the analysing clinical teams tend to pay a particular attention to the adequacy of clinical challenges of missed opportunity. Moreover, the missed opportunity committee strategize and analyse the long-term plan for clinical challenges and devise the measure to address them.

Competency 2 - Knowledge of the organization including administrative practices and procedures common to organizations such as those pertaining to areas of responsibility, channels of communication, delegation of authority, routing of correspondence, filing systems, fund control point, and storage of files and records.

I am quite acquainted with the various organization’s practices and regulations. With this regard, I know what is expected of me in my line of duty as well as in leading other people. Basically, it is crucial to respect not only those individuals who are above you in authority but also those who work under you. Being conversant with regulatory policies and measures has ensured that I do the right thing at the right time.

In line with my responsibilities in the VA department, I am familiar with several VHA regulations such as the VA Paid Manual, Title 38 USC, and Career Transition Assistance Program for Surplus and Displaced Employees, Code 5CFR, Guide to Processing Personnel Actions and OPM Salaries and Wages Tables. I have often referred to these materials to aid improve my work performance. I can say that my education has played a major role in ensuring that I can adequately interpret and apply the various regulations, policies and other guidelines as it relates to my line of duty.

Competency 3 - Skill in developing and suggesting solutions to any issues involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the Deputy Clinical Executive and Mental Health Care Line.

I am a resourceful individual with the primary focus of improving the performance of every organization that I work for. In order to ensure efficient and effective solutions on issues related to data collection and compilations, I tend to seek the opinion of other relevant parties or stakeholders so that I can incorporate into my own ideas. For example, I suggested the use of spread sheets in compiling and tracking data mainly for the Mental Health Care Line Program. This method seems to makes data compilation efficient and enhances easy tracking of statistical records.

Also, I have worked closely with the Deputy and chief of the Mental Health Care Line on the (Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL)) measures. Mental health care line specially focused on the continuity of care and the loss of VHA patients with schizophrenia or bipolar diagnosis classification. (MHoo8) captured the schizophrenia or bipolar patients who were lost to follow-up and focused on the health and well-being to reinitiate care at the Veteran Affairs hospital. SAIL Measures’, are used by the VA Central Office to evaluate our performance in providing mental health care. To summarize briefly, Mental Health SAIL measures include an overall Mental Health Domain score as well as Composite scores for population coverage, continuity of Care and experience of Care, which includes scores/measures taken from the annual MH Provider Summary and the Veterans Satisfaction Survey (evidence that it is really important to complete those surveys). Our Overall MH Domain standardized score went from -1.11 Standard deviation (SD) to -.32 (Red to Yellow)—we are going for Green across the board. Mental health mission is to provide quality of care to all American Veterans by improving access, providing alternate care/ extended hour clinics, ensuring post discharge, engaging patients in follow-up, providing coordination of care across vast programs.

Competency 4 - Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds including care line executives, health care providers in various disciplines, and staff from a variety of services and programs

Effective communication is crucial for conflict minimization and resolution while at the same time enhancing knowledge and understanding of the information at hand. My communication is excellent since I communicate in a tactful, courteous, and respectful manner. For instance, in my current job, I am the primary liaison between the management division and the employees. My primary goal was to ensure that all the employees were well-informed of all clinical guidelines, policies, and standards provided by the federal government.

Additionally, I communicate on a daily basis via diverse communication instant messaging, email, and face to face interaction with employees from diverse backgrounds. My major aim is to be a proactive individual with regard adequate employee follow up. Principally, in my communication, I display professionalism, sympathy and empathy as it relates to the subject matter. By effectively communicating with employees, I facilitate the realization of conflict-free workgroups in the Veterans Affairs Administration Hospital so as to improve workplace civility.

My abilities to clearly communicate their ideas and findings orally, in written proposals and reports so as to aid the understanding of other people. Principally, the analysts should effectively communicate meaningful information about the details to business units and/or managers. Most significantly, they should keep the management and all the relevant departments informed of the status of projects and activities.

Moreover, I should ensure that regular communication occurs based on the needs of the project or the individual. When the information presented is unclear, they should elaborate and clarify communication to the level of the audience for the benefit of the intended audience by utilizing creative methods such as analogies and visuals to communicate complex ideas.

Verbal/written communication skills for the past 10 years, I’ve communicated with individuals at all levels of management/leadership in my Undergrad, Masters, and currently Doctoral Programs. In my present position, I handle frequent telephone calls, written and face-to-face inquire, and maintain continuous personal contact with a wide variety of individuals.  I am currently involved in work-related inquires to compose letters/reports, assisting customers with MyHealtheVet enrollment, and other duties as assigned. I establish and maintain the office administrative filing system in accordance with Agency and Departmental.

I strive for customer satisfaction by providing world class treatment to all in accordance to the VA missions.   I consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representative, visitors and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.  I provide the customers with reliable information according to established policies and procedures.  Although the knowledge offered is not limited to healthcare, my team building capability has grown tenfold. My conflict resolving skills have been of help in liaising with the healthcare authorities of various capacities and levels. I handle conflict and problems by dealing with the customer appropriately and constructively.