Supervisory Physical Therapist

Summary The Physical Therapy Supervisor is assigned to the Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Service at VA Illiana Health Care System. The incumbent is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Massage Therapy, and Kinesiotherapy departments. This includes oversight of therapy staff at the CBOCs, as well as HBPC therapy staff. Responsibilities Supervise and assign work to the OT, PT, KT, Massage Therapy, and HBPC staff in the delivery and support of treatment and education of patients and families. Distribution and balance of workload among employees to ensure that each employees skills are optimally utilized. Development/Implementation of policies and procedures of the G&RS/PM&RS service to assure that they reflect current provisions of therapy services. Performance evaluation and management of direct reports. Recommends performance awards/reward staff. Oversee attendance and leave. Review and resolve employee complaints or LER related issues within jurisdiction. Recruits, selects, and promotes Therapists in accordance with VA personnel regulations. Demonstrates the ability to establish priorities, task delegation, and problem-solve to meet multiple deadlines and identify/resolve organizational problems. Assists with developing position descriptions, functional statements, and performance plans that communicate clear expectations to staff and insure fully successful performance by staff members. Collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN, or national levels for new patient care delivery, facilities management, and system reorganization. Design and implement orientation and training programs for new staff members. Consult management review, monitor, and address consults in a regular and timely manner. Evaluates the effectiveness of treatment programs/services provided; develop new programs/services to meet the changing needs of the veteran population. Aids when needed to augment staff during periods of increased workload or staff shortages. Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs. Employee uses word processing, spread sheet, and database software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers, inserting, and deleting test; formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses computerized systems VISTA, CPRS, GUI. Knowledge of the environment of care, Infection Control and Occupational Safety and Health requirements that apply to the work area. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 6:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available, Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. 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: 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Masters degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PTs was either a bachelors or masters degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, masters, 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. 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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: GS-14 Physical Therapist (Supervisor): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. In addition, you must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas. 2. Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators. 3. Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development. 4. Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work. 5. Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.