Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the facility/CBOCs where this vacancy is located: Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The duties of the Supervisory Occupational Therapist include, but are not limited:

Supervisory:

• Coordinates clinic activities across multiple disciplines including physician, APN, Chiropractor, RN, physical therapy and occupational therapy including assignment of work for evaluation and treatment of patients referred to PMRS North Little Rock Division. Clinics include a variety of specialty areas including Physician Pain procedures, 15 bed CARF Accredited Rehabilitation Unit, 15 bed Geriatric Rehabilitation unit, 3 Community Living Centers inpatients units, Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation, lymphedema program, Inpatient, Musculoskeletal, Outpatient, SCI, Orthopedic, Wheelchair, Amputee, Prosthetics Brace, and a drivers rehabilitation program.
• Reviews all PMRS North Little Rock Division Inpatient and Outpatient consults to determine appropriateness of physical and occupational therapy orders. Contacts referring providers for further clarification of orders as necessary and educates referring providers on services provided by PMRS.
• Determines department priorities, assigning work, and ensuring that established productivity is maintained across multiple disciplines including physical therapy, chiropractic, nursing, occupational therapy, rehabilitation therapy assistants, and medical support assistants.
• Assists Program Director in monitoring scheduling practices for physician, APN, chiropractor, RN, physical therapy, and occupational therapy clinics to ensure that patients are scheduled in a timely manner based on acuity to promote the highest possible functional outcome. Maintains scheduling access by completing all required classes and is knowledgeable of all scheduling directives and mandates to ensure compliance in scheduling procedures.

Clinical:

• Solves complex treatment problems related to occupational therapy, using advanced knowledge to adapt and modify treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the needs of the patients across multiple areas of practice.
• Evaluates patients with simple and complex diagnoses to identify specific occupational therapy treatment problems. Using a wide range of knowledge across multiple areas of occupational therapy, the incumbent develops a specific occupational therapy treatment plan for each patient utilizing evidenced based practice.
• Establishes short-term and long-term occupational therapy patient treatment goals that are objective, measurable, functional, and time limited in collaboration with the patient and significant other/caregivers.
• Monitors the clinically appropriate treatment plan and frequently assesses the patient's progress toward occupational therapy treatment goals; modifying the goals and treatment program as indicated.
• Monitors patient's emergency medical needs, intolerance to treatment, changes in the patient's physical/mental status, and takes appropriate action as necessary. Incumbent is aware of the special needs/problems associated with patients across many areas of occupational therapy and is able to adjust the treatment program as needed.

Administrative:

• Provides all statistical data as requested. Initiates and develops data management programs and tools to meet the administrative coordination needs of the service and Comprehensive Rehabilitation program.
• Assures that documentation supports IDC-10 and CPT codes utilized to capture workload and for billing purposes.
• Identifies and corrects, if possible, any safety hazards and reports equipment malfunctions.
• Maintains supplies at effective level for treatment and ensures their appropriate use.
• Participates in department meetings on the Annual Business Plan and makes recommendations for additions of equipment and occupational therapy treatment programs.
• Supervises and guides non-professional assistants/aides involved in occupational therapy treatment to maintain overall responsibility of treatment.
• Maintains personal productivity and manages effective use of time/schedules for occupational therapy.

Education:

• Completes continuing education annually across many areas of occupational therapy and shares information with other professionals through in-services, presentations, and one to one meetings.
• Provides in-service trainings for OT's, DO's, DC's, APNs, RNs, KT's, PT's, MD's and other health care professionals or students in many areas pertaining to occupational therapy.
• Supervises and guides non-professional assistants/aides involved in physical therapy treatment to maintain overall responsibility of treatment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00520-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 identification 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:

• 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 must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and/or Experience. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  (a) 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 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
  (b) 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
  (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• 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.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-13

(1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

(2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
(b) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service.
(c) Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution.
(d) Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.]

Preferred Experience: Five or more years' of VA experience providing complex evaluation and treatment of OT -OR- PT including providing direct care; Familiar with supervisory methods such as productivity management, time and leave management, and assignment of specialized care such as, but not limited to, DME, Power Mobility, Drivers Rehab; Experience with development and establishment of therapy clinics, including specialized knowledge in inpatient rehabilitation and CLC therapy procurement including analysis supporting justification of expansion of current or new PT, OT, KT care across the continuum of care, would also be considered as preferred experience.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful 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.