Clarification from the agency

This announcement is only open to current agency employees who are permanently assigned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs along with former/current/upcoming Veterans Health Administration Health Professions Trainees (HPT).

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

The VA Boston Healthcare System is seeking a 0.6 FTE (24 hours per week), part-time Physical Therapist for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.

This position will primarily be assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) population in Brockton with additional duties such as within the community living center (CLC, sub acute rehab) and inpatient mental health units. Patient care coverage at other VA Boston Campuses could be required on an as needed basis. This position reports to the Service Line Manager.

The Physical Therapist will be independent with managing a caseload of individuals with various conditions and supervising Physical Therapist Assistant(s). Strong consideration for candidates with experience with spinal cord injury/disorders or similar neurologic conditions, sub acute/long term care, supervision of PTAs, and team based work.

The duties include but are not limited to: Perform independent patient evaluations using appropriate standardized tests; independently develop, implement, and modify physical therapy treatment programs; recognize contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by referring provider; provide timely and accurate written documentation of patient status, progress with therapy, therapy plan, and patient response to treatment in accordance with policy; interact professionally and courteously with all VA staff, patients, and patients' families/caregivers, and managing caseload at a productive standard.

Preferred experience:

• Spinal cord injury/disorders or related neurologic
• Inpatient sub acute and/or long term care
• Leadership of support personnel (PTA, rehab aides, students)
• Team based roles and skills

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

Health Professions Trainee (HPT) upcoming graduates 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. HPT includes interns, residents, fellows, VA advanced fellows, and pre- and post-doctoral fellows who spend all or part of their clinical training experiences at VA facilities.

COVERAGE. The following standard lists the requirements for appointment as a Physical Therapist (PT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The requirements will apply to all VHA PTs employed in the GS-0633 series that provide clinical services to address a vast array of problems that impact the health and function of a wide range of diverse patients.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following:

a. Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States.

b. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:

(1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.

(2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.

(3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

c. 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

d. Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.

e. English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment listed above, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

(1) GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry)

(a) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph above.)

(b) Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT.

(2) GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level)

(a) Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.

2. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors.

3. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations.

4. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated.

5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence.

6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs.

(c) Assignment. At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, PTs perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs 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. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis, where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12 dated February 7, 2018

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.

(1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

(a) Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.

(b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.

Promotion Potential (GS-11 Appointees): This position is developmental to journeyman grade PD#523-F03273, Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12, and is established for recruitment and development at one grade level lower than the targeted grade-level of this position. During this developmental assignment, the full performance range and level of selected key functions will not be fully delegated to the incumbent. Incumbent will initially perform the less difficult duties of the intervening position under normal supervision and the more difficult duties of the intervening position under close supervision. As satisfactory progress is made, supervisory controls will be gradually lessened in line with the incumbent's proven knowledge, skills and abilities. A non-competitive promotion to the intervening grade level of this position will be effected when the incumbent meets regulatory requirements for promotion and demonstrates ability to perform the duties under normal supervision. Over the course of time, as the employee gains experience, the incumbent is expected to perform duties with a progressively higher degree of independence. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. At the GS-11 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.