Domiciliary Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Domiciliary Assistant (Behavioral Health)

• Setting: Domiciliary living units serving up to 220 patients during the tour of duty

• Focus: Direct patient care and administrative support; many patients are being treated for substance abuse

Description

Support the operation of domiciliary living units by providing direct patient care and administrative assistance to domiciliary patients. You will help ensure health, safety, and sanitation compliance in living quarters and treatment areas while monitoring patients and maintaining required documentation. The role also includes preparing patient activity and care forms, assisting therapeutic rehabilitation as part of a treatment team, and responding appropriately to medical/psychiatric issues and incidents.

Responsibilities

• Ensure patient compliance with health, safety, and sanitation directives

• Identify safety hazards and correct them immediately

• Modify/direct patient behavior and assist with therapeutic rehabilitation programs

• Prepare forms for patient activities (pass requests, clearance slips, treatment team meetings, discharge paperwork)

• Monitor patients and document health/behavior/functioning information in medical records

• Monitor and direct patients regarding rule/policy violations and procedures

• Refer medical/psychiatric problems and emergencies or physical altercations to the Charge Nurse

• Adhere to HIPAA rules and protect patient privacy

• Conduct bed checks and follow up on patients reported absent from bed check

• Conduct building/domiciliary area searches for missing patients when required

• Perform breathalyzing for patients returning from authorized/unauthorized absence or suspected intoxication

• Conduct walk-through rounds to resolve safety, health, and hygiene issues

• Conduct searches of patient lockers/belongings/furnishings when there is reason to believe harmful items are concealed (including weapons, alcohol, illicit drugs)

• Use word processing software for office automation (store/retrieve electronic documents, print, format letters/reports/forms, transmit/receive email)

• Take samples to the hospital lab as needed

• Pick up and sort/distribute patient mail and packages

• Pass meal trays as needed

• Transport patients on campus and locally as needed

• Take inventory of patient belongings and pack them when they leave the program irregularly

• Perform other duties as necessary

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Complete all required application steps, including an online assessment

• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959

• Pre-employment physical examination

• Current valid state-issued Driver's License

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding with acceptable identification; REAL ID compliant requirements apply after May 7, 2025

• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program (VA requirement)

• Serve a 1-year probationary period as a condition of employment

• Meet minimum qualifications by the closing date via specialized experience and/or education

Benefits

A comprehensive U.S. government employee benefits package is available; eligibility depends on position type—contact the hiring agency for details.