Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Veteran Affairs Northern California Health Care System employees ONLY. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Supervisory responsibility extends to a diverse staff of 42 therapists including Occupational Therapists, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, Recreation Assistants, and Music Therapists. The Section Chief uses independent judgment in identifying the need for and in establishing new Occupational Therapy rehabilitative programs for patients with complex medical and psychological impairments. This may include developing the program structure with knowledge of evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas to guide the program staff in providing clinically appropriate treatment interventions, developing the program structure, developing and implementing policies and procedures to address clinical and programmatic needs, identifying staffing and training needs, equipment, supplies and space, and the coordination of Occupational Therapy with other services to deliver care in the most effective manner.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• ADMINISTRATIVE:
  • Supervises, directs, and assigns work for all the physical rehab Occupational Therapists and provides clinical supervision for the HBPC OTs and those in the Mental Health and Social Work service lines. Has oversight responsibility for the Recreation Therapy, and Creative Arts Therapy programs.
  • Serves as second line supervisor for the Recreation Therapy and Creative Arts Therapy personnel. These are done in accordance with other focused rehabilitation and health care services.
  • Establishes and submits annual departmental budget requests and manages the OT Section's funds.
  • Develops all policies and procedures pertaining to the OT Section.
  • Initiates personnel recruitment actions for all therapists within the Occupational Therapy Section.
  • Identifies advertising sources and develops advertising text.
  • Assumes primary responsibility for conducting interviews and for candidate selection.
  • Makes recommendations and writes Board Actions for the Professional Medical Board for all appointments and promotions.
  • Evaluates employee performance and conducts annual performance appraisals.
• CLINICAL:
  • Maintains a caseload of patients and provides Occupational Therapy services in the more complex cases.
  • Complies with department guidelines concerning patient evaluation, treatment and documentation.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of contemporary and evidence-based occupational therapy practice across multiple areas of practice including ambulatory care clinics, inpatient, CLC/CREC, behavioral health, homelessness, home based primary care, and caregiver support and applies this knowledge to provides clinical guidance to staff OTs.
  • Provides guidance and technical advice, support and assistance to occupational therapy personnel in applying current knowledge to individual practice setting.
  • Regularly reviews all clinical programs in the Occupational Therapy Section to assure that current methodology is being incorporated in all clinical areas.
  • Manages equipment needs of Veterans in the community by working with providers in the community in submitting and processing DME requests.
  • Provides coverage for therapists during staff absences, as needed, to maintain continuity of care in both inpatient and outpatient clinics.
  • Serves as consultant to other facility personnel in evaluating and planning Occupational Therapy for the most complex cases.
• EDUCATIONAL:
  • Encourages professional development and growth in Occupational Therapy staff by promoting participation in educational courses on station and in the community.
  • Coordinates use of tuition support funds and provides justification for continuing education programs for OT staff.
  • Organizes vendor in-services to provide therapy staff with education on state-of-the-art rehabilitation technologies.
  • Conducts in-service training programs for other services within the Medical Venter and CLC/CREC as requested.
  • Educates other facility personnel in the role and scope of Occupational Therapy services and available programs.
  • Keeps abreast of changing methodology in Occupational Therapy by attending clinical educations courses.
  • Oversees the Occupational Therapy intern program, including b it not limited to supervising student proctors, reviewing and renewing affiliation agreements, ensuring compliance with requirements of the American Occupational Therapy Association's student affiliation program.

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday to Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Available for Ad-Hoc telework only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 09613-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorize

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• 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:

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

2. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

3. Education and/or Experience:

• The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  1. Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
  2. Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
  3. Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy

*Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.

4. Certification: Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT.

5. State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.


Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
3. OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
4. OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Grade Determinations:

Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-14

• Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level and directly related to the position being filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing clinically appropriate treatment interventions.
  • Skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with employees, team leaders, and administrators.
  • Ability to manage resources for a large, integrated service including not only occupational therapy, but also other focused rehabilitation, ancillary, or other health care services.
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a group of professional staff.
  • Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into cogent and useful policy in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight and supervision of multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, and system reorganizations.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements:
Includes, but not limited to:

• Involves considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning.
• Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 50 lbs., but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting more than 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs.
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care.
• The position requires the employee to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally ill clients.
• Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation, and repetitive actions.
• Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities.
• Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste, and chemicals.
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors.
• Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds.
• Emotional and mental stability - ability to effectively perform the essential functions of the position and respond appropriately in emergency situations.

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.