Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Employees current permanent employees, current or former OAA interns/residents/fellows at a VA program*** NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:

1. Clinical

• Supervise and assign work to rehab professionals, assistants, aides, trainees, and volunteers in the delivery and/or support of treatment and education of patients and families.
• Triage consults for appropriateness and completeness prior to scheduling. Delegate as appropriate.
• Coordinates with Health Administration Service to ensure scheduling for all consults for new patients.
• Coordinates with other sections and other services in the area of treatment, scheduling, and delivery of care.
• Serves as a consultant to PT staff and other personnel in evaluating and planning PT treatment.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of outpatient services.
• Performs all other duties/activities of a staff PT including evaluation and treatment of patients.
• Delegates tasks to staff therapists and support staff appropriately.

• Identifies continuing education needs based on performance of staff.
• Assists with education of student trainees from multiple schools, PT Residency programs, Acupuncture training program, and/or Occupational Therapy training program, as appropriate.
• Develops and plans educational programs to include patient, family, and professional personnel.
• Educates other facility personnel in the scope of services and programs involving a variety of healthcare specialties.
• Coordinates research studies and serves as consultant to staff in research initiatives.
• Provides leadership and coordination of national and local VA training for VHA staff.
• Provides consultation to VA medical centers outside of ECHCS VAMC in the area of rehabilitation.

• Performs a full range of supervisory duties that include interviewing candidates, recommending appointments, advancements, and promotions and taking disciplinary action when indicated.
• Contributes to the development, review, and revision of staff performance evaluations.
• Responsible for completion of staff performance evaluations.
• Responsible for maintaining Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) folders for all LIP staff.
• Responsible for completing FPPE & OPPE paperwork for Medical Staff Office reviews in accordance with established timelines.
• Assesses and ensures sufficient clinical competency of staff. Maintains competency assessments per medical center policy.
• Organizes and supervises the assigned section(s). Guides and manages clinics in respect to training, work assignments, performance, conduct, and patient welfare.
• Provides orientation and training of new staff members.
• Conducts department meetings and/or in-services on a regular basis to expand the knowledge and disseminate appropriate information to staff.
• Ensures consults are handled in the most expeditious manner based upon acuity of need.
• Investigates assigned JPSR within established timeframes, and provides constructive feedback.
• Develops, plans, and implements and assists in the planning, development, and implementation of various treatment programs for PM&RS.
• Develops, plans, and implements monitors of quality of care (QM) with respect to services as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to Veterans.
• Responsible for submitting requests for expendable and non-expendable equipment and reviewing
• the equipment needs and budget with the PM&RS Service Chief, and/or Section Chief.
• Responsible for ensuring that all OSHA standards as well as the facility safety guidelines and infection control policies are being met in the treatment areas.
• Responsible for ensuring that environmental rounds are completed on a monthly basis, and maintains an environment of continual survey readiness. Addresses issues and deficiencies in a timely manner.
• Responsible for special assignments associated with the preparation for The Joint Commission, CARF, and other surveys, as applicable, and ensuring that the standards are met.
• Participates on committees as approved/assigned.

• The employees relationship with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and positively contributes to the effective operation of PM&RS.
• Meets the needs of the customers (internal and external) while supporting the VA Mission.
• Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
• Handles conflict and problems with professionalism and deals with customers constructively and appropriately.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned.

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. 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.

NOTE:Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.

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 www.apta.org.

(4) 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. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

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.

Grade Determinations:

Physical Therapist (Supervisory), GS-13

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
1. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department.
2. Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
3. Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a diverse physical therapy staff.
4. Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution.
5. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
6. Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems.
7. Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community.

Preferred Experience: 5 years experience as a Physical Therapist (3 years experience of clinical outpatient PT Experience). Leadership experience preferred (may include clinical leadership as a clinical instructor or formal supervisory leadership). Participated in program development in area of PT. Completed leadership training such as Yellow Belt training, mentorship program, virtual Aspiring Leadership Program, etc.

Supervisory Controls: This position falls under the direct supervision of the PM&RS Section Chief of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy & Acupuncture. The Section Chief evaluates the incumbents performance in the effectiveness in maintaining a highest level of patient care and in the attainment of rehabilitation goals. The incumbent independently plans, organizes, and carries out the work, resolves most technical problems, makes modification as needed and selects the approach and methods to use. The incumbent is given considerable latitude in the operation of guidelines pertaining to policies set forth in VA manuals and guidelines pertaining to Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Acupuncture Services.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G-12 Dated February 7, 2018.

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

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.