Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies and US citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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• Appropriately plans work operations for the outpatient therapy programs, sets priorities, delegates tasks, solves problems related to work performed in the programs, and is accountable for the quality, performance, timeliness, and productivity of the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy services provided.
• Provides clinical guidance to staff physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and health technicians in the delivery of therapy services. This involves careful planning, coordination, and continuous assessment to guarantee the well-being and progress of the veteran involved in the CBOC Therapy Program.
• Analyzes clinically appropriate data to effectively optimize quality, performance, and productivity within both programs. Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, and evaluates the programs to ensure methods, deadlines, quality, and quantity standards are met.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in effective management and administration in areas of supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring of program elements and subordinates across both disciplines.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in effectively managing a diverse, multi-disciplinary therapy staff. Demonstrates skill in developing positive interpersonal relationships and effective conflict resolution.
• Successfully collaborates with superiors, leaders from varied Care/Service Lines, other therapy supervisors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, health care disciplines, and subordinates to ensure efficient and effective delivery of quality therapy services throughout the CBOC and facility.
• Serves as a facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating initiatives and consensus building activities among team members with widely divergent knowledge and skill levels, backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
• Develops, organizes, and administers Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs to provide treatment that meets the physical, mental, social, and functional needs of adult and geriatric outpatients referred from Rehabilitation and Extended Care Line providers, the Operative Care Line, and other approved providers.
• Independently assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy referrals, and conducts examinations and evaluations of impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems, as well as functional and occupational performance deficits affecting activities of daily living, in order to develop and implement comprehensive treatment plans.
• Independently interprets findings from examination and evaluation, selects appropriate tests and measures, and integrates findings into the physical therapy and/or occupational therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations, considering the effects of unique psychosocial and environmental factors.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and/or occupational therapy practice, identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, and determine prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes.
• Develops individualized, patient-centered treatment plans with measurable short- and long-term goals and objectives, including scope, duration, and treatment. Recommends adaptive/assistive devices and modifies treatment techniques as needed, taking into account traction devices, surgical drains, catheters, immobilizing appliances, respiratory aids, or monitoring devices.
• On an ongoing basis, adapts and modifies treatment plans in response to the patient's reaction to treatment to better meet short- and long-term goals. Recognizes adverse reactions or significantly altered physical/mental status and reports to appropriate medical authority.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process.
• Works effectively as part of the therapy team to provide effective and efficient physical therapy and/or occupational therapy services to the assigned patient group, and assists the larger team of co-workers in providing timely services as indicated.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm. Holiday work may be required. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 580 - 02432F
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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.
• Education and/or 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.
  • Foreign Graduates. Graduates] of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix. (G-14)
• 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.
• English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: Supervisory Occupational Therapist GS-0631-13

(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:

• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
• 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.
• Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution.
• Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.

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).


Preferred Experience: 1. Recent outpatient supervisory experience: Experience supervising and managing an outpatient rehabilitation team that includes both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) staff, with responsibility for workload distribution, performance management, staff development, and clinical oversight. 2. Outpatient rehabilitation operators: Experience overseeing therapy services in a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) or comparable outpatient setting, including staffing, scheduling, resource allocation, timely access to care, and coordination with other clinical services. 3. Clinic expansion, program development, and quality improvement: Experience planning and implementing clinic expansion projects, including space planning, equipment procurement, staffing plans, workflow development, and coordination with facilities and other stakeholders. Experience establishing or expanding outpatient therapy services and using performance data and patient outcomes to guide program improvements.

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
Current permanent VA employees of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
All other VA employees
Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies
All other applicants.

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.