Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent VHA employee ONLY. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Duties include but are not limited to:

CLINICAL

• Provides overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care within the section and the facility at large
• Coordinates with other departments to facilitate the efficient operation of SCI&D therapy services.
• Is responsible for the day to day operations of the SCI&D therapy department.
• Consults with other staff and physicians through attendance at specialty clinics and educational presentations.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of SCI&D therapy services.
• Performs all other duties/activities of a staff OT.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary when performing his/her duties in providing care appropriate to all patients, with particular emphasis on the needs of SCI patients. The incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of age associated changes, illnesses, and potential disabilities in order to work with all adult patients.
• Represents SCI&D Service line at VISN 6 REC ICC meetings.

EDUCATION

• Identifies continuing education needs based on performance of all PT/ OT/KT/RT staff.
• Develops and plans educational programs to include patient, family and professional personnel.
• Educates other facility personnel of scope of PT/ OT/ KT/ RT services and programs involving a variety of health care specialties.
• Provides in-service education to other hospital departments and SCI VISN spokes training.

ADMINISTRATIVE/SUPERVISORY

• Supervises SCI&D therapy personnel as assigned by the SCI&D Service line executive.
• Responsible for the day to day operation of the SCI&D therapy service excluding physician and primary care operations. These operations would include any location (Hospital or Outpatient including home health visits.)
• Oversees occupational, physical, recreational therapists, and Kinesiotherapists working off station through the SCI&D Home Care program.
• Creates plans that actively support the achievement of organizational goals and ensures that staff understands their role in achieving those goals and related missions of the VA and the SCI&D Service Line.
• Recruits candidates for employment, receives applications, conducts pre-employment interviews, and recommends appointments, advancements, promotions, or disciplinary action to the Professional Standards Board. Evaluates the rehab therapy staff work performances in conjunction with the respective professional liaisons.
• Guides and manages clinics in respect to training, performance, conduct and patient welfare. Directs, assigns and counsels rehab therapy staff.
• Assists SCI&D Service Chief,\ in planning and developing various treatment programs to meet patient needs.
• Maintains statistical records; and necessary information of completion of various required statistics and reports of section activity.
• Develops, plans, and implements monitors of quality of care with respect to PT/OT/KT/RT services as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patient within the SCI&D service line.
• Assures the cleanliness, maintenance, repairs, and successful operation of all PT/OT/KT/RT equipment, treatment areas and operational supplies. Reviews requests for SCI&D therapy supplies and equipment and monitors status of equipment orders.
• Actively supports and promotes all programs of the SCI&D Service Line.
• Actively involved in submitting abstracts for presentations at SCI&D conferences. Assists service line Chief in making presentations to referrals sources, as well as hospital and VISN departments.
• Promotes research and innovation participation by staff therapists through review of proposals and adjusting caseloads as needed.
• Develops, updates, and publishes the SCI&D Therapy policy and procedures.
• Develops and maintains a performance improvement program incorporating new requirements of JCAHO in current programs.
• Represents Rehab therapy section of SCI&D in the medical center and community.
• Responsible for providing administrative and technical supervision and coordination for a diverse group of Allied Health professionals. This includes ensuring that customer service standards are met; quality clinical practices are routine, adherence to professional code of ethics, patient rights, staff morale, staff training/education and adherence to External review organizations.
• Updates Labor Mapping to accurately reflect duties of subordinate staff.
• Approves leave while maintaining appropriate clinical coverage for the Service

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)

Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:

• 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,

• 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.

• 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 Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.d.

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).Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.

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-14: Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Supervisory Occupational Therapists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (GS-14):

• 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 a diverse range of 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 diverse 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14 Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard GS-0631 dated December 13, 2019, Veterans Health Administration.

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: Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion, which involves standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting (45lbs or greater) is often required. Sitting at meetings, desks, or computer terminals for documentation purposes is required. Visual acuity to perform daily documentation and work with clients. Mental and emotional stability to work with varied caseloads.

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.