Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of VANTHCS, and VISN 17 only. This is an interdisciplinary announcement, and Kinesiotherapist should apply to CAZM-12849692-26-RV and Occupational Therapists should apply to CAZM-12849690-26-RV. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

The Supervisory Physical Therapist provides direct supervision to diverse rehabilitation staff (OT, PT, KT) in the Community Living Center (CLC), the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP), the Amputee Specialty Program (ASP), Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC) and Medical Foster Home (MFH) programs. Additional responsibilities include oversight and administrative management of all patient care services (nursing, psychologist, social worker, physician, etc.) provided in CIIRP program. He/she plans, develops, monitors, and evaluates effectiveness of new and existing patient care programs, and is responsible for the outcomes and level of work performed.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversees the development of rehabilitation programs, the coordination of therapy services, and the integration of other services
• Supervises and assigns work in assigned programs to lead therapists, clinical specialists, PTs, PT Assistants, OTs, OT Assistants, KTs, KT Assistants, trainees, and volunteers in the delivery and/or support of treatment and education of patients and families.
• Directs patient care needs; assigns caseload of patients from diverse PM&R programs with varied diagnoses and complexity levels; and is accountable for clinic access (timeliness) performance measures.
• Coordinates with Lead therapist(s), Rehabilitation Coordinator(s), Clinical Specialists and other services, treatment schedule, the delivery of care interventions and care plan that involves patients from different age groups (from young adult to geriatric patients).
• Evaluates the effectiveness of treatment services provided; develops innovative programs/services to meet the changing needs of the Veteran population and reviews effectiveness of existent programs/services.
• Identifies training needs in treatment techniques and health care technology advances; supports and/or initiates education to staff through in-service training and continuing education attendance. Oversees staff to assure training in required performance measures and monitors needs for re- training.
• Facilitates a cooperative working relationship; and maintains effective communication with medical and allied health care providers.
• Serves as a rehabilitation consultant/subject matter expert to PM&R staff, VANTHCS providers, VISN representatives, other VA and Non-VA Health Care Institutions, schools and others.
• Coordinates therapy services and ensure operational oversight and management of the following: CIIRP follow up clinic, HBPC and Non-HBPC Home Health Services, CIIRP, Hospice and ASP unit/programs.
• Provides cost-effective utilization of resources within the program, resulting in increased program effectiveness and avoidance of waste of valuable resources
• The Supervisor of Program II is responsible for program development and the supervision of therapists (PT/OT/KT) at PM&RS various locations within VANTHCS.
• He/she ensures organizational adherence to the policies on ethical conduct and oversees compliance with TJC, CARF, OSHA, OIG, MOS, FSOD and other (internal and external) regulatory standards and accrediting bodies.
• Develops, manages, and implements policies and procedures to assure compliance of CIIRP program with CARF accreditation requirements.
• He/she ensures organizational adherence to the policies on ethical conduct and oversees compliance with TJC, CARF, OSHA, OIG, MOS, FSOD and other (internal and external) regulatory standards and accrediting bodies.
• Develops, manages, and implements policies and procedures to assure compliance of CIIRP program with CARF accreditation requirements.
• He/she is responsible for determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the service operation. Manages assigned personnel ceiling, distributes personnel resources to achieve efficient and effective therapy services. Initiates and monitors corrective action plans when efficiency and effective delivery of care is reduced or when access is beyond policy or performance measure.
• Collaborates with PT/OT/KT Clinical Education Coordinators and the VANTHCS ACOS for Education in the implementation of educational training programs, reviewing affiliation agreements, setting up clinical education assignments to the program, participating on onboarding process and timekeeping, developing clinical instructors' education competencies, reviewing annual local and National reports.

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

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Occasional weekends and Holidays
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Supervisory Physical Therapist/PD0000
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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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-14 Physical Therapist Supervisor

Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Examples of experience: Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

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

• (1) Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
• (2) Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators.
• (3) Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.
• (4) Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work.
• (5) Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc.

Assignment. Supervisory PTs at this level are responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in a large physical therapy service or a rehabilitation service with multiple therapy related disciplines, including but not limited to the Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Speech & Language Pathology, Recreation Therapy, and Blind Rehabilitation. Supervisors manage staff, maintain effective interdepartmental relations, and cooperate with other services to accomplish the medical facility's mission and goals. He/she develops performance standards, assures the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. He/she develops local policies and procedures relative to their assigned area. He/she is responsible for determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation. He/she formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long term interest of the service or facility, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks. Individuals at this level would generally be found at a highly complex facility.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements:
Should have the ability to perform repetitive physical activities:

• Up to 4-6 hours of the following: sitting, walking, standing, twisting, bending, stooping, reaching, reaching overhead, grasping and pinching with hands and fine manipulation, such as typing/keyboarding.
• Up to 1-2 hours of the following: straight pulling, puling hand over hand, pushing, climbing and kneeling.

Required lifting light to moderate (up to 44 pounds) and carrying light to moderate (up to 44 pounds).
Required functional hearing with/without hearing aids, Near vision correctable at 13-16", Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, the ability to use both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors.
Use of fingers, both hands and use of both legs.
Sitting is required for meetings, administrative work and occasionally driving motor vehicle most of the day. The ability to drive is required.
The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as transferring patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending self against combative patients assigned to the incumbent.
Work may require good physical health, normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity, to evaluate and treat patients, and to use computer, keyboard, monitor, phone, etc.
Work is performed in the clinics, wards, exercise areas, office and conference rooms, occasionally in the home. May be exposed to infectious diseases, medical and psychiatric emergencies.

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, resume, 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.