Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees of the facility and CBOCs where this vacancy is located serving on career/career-conditional appointments and past, current, upcoming VHA Health Professional Trainee eligible (HPT)

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This Physical Therapist has experience that demonstrates the possession of advanced practice skills and judgment across many areas of Physical Therapy (PT). The employee is expected to carry out the general duty assignments, requirements and responsibilities of a Physical Therapist.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Examines individuals with complex impairments, functional limitations, disabilities or other health conditions; determines a PT diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention.
• Alleviates impairments and functional limitations by designing, implementing, and modifying a physical therapy treatment plan, consulting with appropriate interdisciplinary team member to provide the most appropriate interventions.
• The clinical specialist (vestibular) prevents injury, impairment, functional limitation, and disability by promoting wellness, fitness, and improved quality of life in all age populations served.
• Serve as a mentor and provide guidance to other physical therapy staff regarding the application of Vestibular Rehabilitation techniques, assessments and interventions in all patient populations served.
• Assist with guidance and direction of volunteers and completion of various administrative tasks within the department
• Provides professional oversight and consultation for staff therapists.
• Develops and maintains the treatment programs and/or clinics based on best practices for patient/client management.
• Plans an effective goal-directed treatment program, based on findings from a thorough examination and assessment that is appropriate and indicated for the impairment, functional limitation and/or disability being treated.
• Recognizes when to refer conditions outside the scope of physical therapy practice to the appropriate provider.
• Provides clients and their families with counseling, education, information and training regarding the nature of their impairments, functional limitations, treatment plan, goals, home program, and/or disability.

Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Some weekend rotation for inpatient coverage.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist (VESTIBULAR)/ FS #000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
    • NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at ww.apta.org.
• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Licensure. Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

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).

Grade Determinations:
GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist):Experience.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level such as independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals; establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed; making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care and one of the following:

1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or
2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or
3. Completion of a fellowship program; or
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field.

In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (see paragraph 2i).
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

Preferred Experience: Vestibular certification, 3 years of experience treating vestibular population. Operational and technical knowledge of Balancemaster-equitest equipment.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12 Dated February 7, 2018

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.); light carrying (under 15 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (intermittent); standing (intermittent); hearing (aid permitted); clear speech. The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.