Description

Health and Wellness Coaches work with individuals to identify their motivation for change, determine goals for their work together, develop sustainable action steps toward achieving their short- and long-term goals, implementing action plans, and assess progress and to adjust plans as needed. Health and Wellness Coaches provide support to positively influence the relationship between lifestyle and health outcomes. Health and Wellness Coaches may collaborate with Veterans and Veterans' primary care and specialty care treatment providers to develop goals designed to improve health and well-being, reduce impact from chronic illness and lessen the likelihood of admission to the emergency department, inpatient care or long-term care.

Major Duties include the following but are not limited to:

• Provides health coaching to individuals or groups in outpatient and inpatient settings using multiple formats to promote a positive behaviors.
• Support Veterans in fostering internal strengths and external resources to develop self-directed strategies for making personalized, sustainable, healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively manage chronic disease.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff throughout the VA health care system to empower Veterans to achieve self-determining goals related to health and well-being.
• Utilizes motivational interviewing, coaching theories, and coaching techniques to assist clients in accomplishing their action steps and goals.
• Provides education around health and wellness coaching services, evidence, and research.
• Follow national Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation guidance and VHA policy relevant to health and wellness coaching.
• Utilizes a coaching process model that aligns with NBHWC standards.
• Connects Veterans with wellbeing services when they are in service of the Veteran's self-identified wellness goals.
• Documents coaching encounters in alignment with local and national guidance.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Candidates must be currently certified by NBHWC. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of current research literature related to health and wellness, including behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
(b) Skill in using health and wellness coaching techniques to promote positive behavior change using one-on-one, couple or group modalities.
(c) Skill in exercising effective interpersonal communication techniques to develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships.
(d) Ability to assist the client in developing a comprehensive personalized health plan based on a patient's action-oriented goals.
(e) Ability to identify resources internal and external to the organization that are necessary for achieving patient overall health and well-being goals.
(f) Ability to use information technology (IT) equipment and various/emerging technologies to carry out work responsibilities.
(g) Ability to document patient information using appropriate system

Preferred Experience:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in group facilitation experience and teaching skills
• Technical proficiency with virtual meeting platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and other relevant software applications
• Completion of a training program that meets or exceeds the NBHWC standards is highly preferred for non-certified applicants

Exception for Non-Certified Health and Wellness Coaches:

• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification (successful completion of a NBHWC Approved Training Program), may be given a temporary appointment as Health and Wellness Coach under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
• Non-certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Health and Wellness Coach at or above the full performance level or other designated occupation with the appropriate training and expertise.
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted until certification is obtained.
• Temporary appointments of non-certified Health and Wellness Coaches may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, Health and Wellness Coaches must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide the uncertified Health and Wellness Coaches with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline.
• Note: If a non-certified candidate is selected, he/she will be expected to obtain the required certification within one year of hire, with no exception proceedings.