Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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 and experience
• The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• Doctorate degree in physical therapy
• 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
• 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 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• Examples of experience: Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness
• Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies
• Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs
• Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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
• Preferred experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in leadership, management, coordination and/or supervision and professional knowledge of current rehabilitation practices of a multiple disciplinary team (to include but not limited to: PT, KT, OT, Recreation Therapy, Creative Arts, Physiatry, Speech, etc.) with progressive leadership experience
• Experience with strategic planning and creation/implementation of Rehab programming, policy, and performance improvement
• Experience with multidisciplinary and collaborative patient/employee/customer care
• Experience providing guidance to staff, and knowledge in planning and directing recruitment, orientation, competencies, assessing training needs, assignment of work
• performance evaluations
• selection of staff
• recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions
• Knowledge and skill in management of interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution
• Experience and knowledge regarding the CARF accreditation process and standards for the rehabilitation program and person served
• Assignment
• Supervisory PTs at this level are responsible for the professional and administrative management of an assigned area in a large physical therapy service or a rehabilitation service with multiple therapy related disciplines, including but not limited to the Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Speech & Language Pathology, Recreation Therapy, and Blind Rehabilitation
• Supervisors manage staff, maintain effective interdepartmental relations, and cooperate with other services to accomplish the medical facility's mission and goals
• He/she develops performance standards, assures the program area is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements, designs and implements orientation and training programs for staff, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities
• He/she develops local policies and procedures relative to their assigned area
• He/she is responsible for determining resource needs, allocating resources, ensuring proper utilization in productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the operation
• He/she formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long term interest of the service or facility, capitalizing on opportunities and managing risks
• Individuals at this level would generally be found at a highly complex facility
• 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: Should have the ability to perform repetitive physical activities: Up to 4-6 hours of the following: sitting, walking, standing, twisting, bending, stooping, reaching, reaching overhead, grasping and pinching with hands and fine manipulation, such as typing/keyboarding
• Up to 1-2 hours of the following: straight pulling, puling hand over hand, pushing, climbing and kneeling
• Required lifting light to moderate (up to 44 pounds) and carrying light to moderate (up to 44 pounds)
• Required functional hearing with/without hearing aids, Near vision correctable at 13-16", Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, the ability to use both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Use of fingers, both hands and use of both legs
• Sitting is required for meetings, administrative work and occasionally driving motor vehicle most of the day
• The ability to drive is required
• The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as transferring patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending self against combative patients assigned to the incumbent
• Work may require good physical health, normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity, to evaluate and treat patients, and to use computer, keyboard, monitor, phone, etc
• Work is performed in the clinics, wards, exercise areas, office and conference rooms, occasionally in the home
• May be exposed to infectious diseases, medical and psychiatric emergencies.