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.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides health coaching to individuals or groups in outpatient and inpatient settings using multiple formats (face-to-face, telephone, virtual, etc.) to increase/promote a positive lifestyle, habits, and behaviors.
• Support Veterans in fostering internal strengths and external resources to develop self-directed strategies for personalized, sustainable, healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively manage chronic disease.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff and teams throughout the VA health care system in a Veteran-centered process to facilitate and empower Veterans to develop and achieve self-determining goals related to health and well-being that align with what matters most and their mission, aspiration, or purpose.
• 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.
• Ensures Veterans are informed of what to expect when engaging in coaching.
• Connects Veterans with well-being services when they are in service of the Veteran's self-identified wellness goals.
• Documents coaching encounters in alignment with local and national guidance.
• The incumbent works under the general supervision of a Supervisory Health and Wellness Coach (or designee when appropriate), who establishes objectives and department priorities.

Requirements

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education and/or Experience.

(1) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
(2) Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR
(3) Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Certification.

(1) List of certifications. Candidates must be currently certified by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC).
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).