Assistant Chief Registered Respiratory Therapist

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is open to current, full time & permanent VA employees only.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Aids in the development and regular review of policies and procedures; ensures that this program remains in compliance with existing VA policy and regulations and TJC standards.
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of all the program activities through standard and innovative techniques.
• Assists in the expansion of department activities wherever necessary to improve patient care.
• Disseminates and gathers information through regular staff meetings with department staff regarding improvement of patient care, with emphasis on responsibility and accountability.
• Maintains statistical and patient data. Monitors individual performance standards and assists in retrospective audits.Skilled in recommending improvement to operations based on evaluation of data.
• Serves as liaison between the department and its clinical consumers (i.e., nursing service, administration and other support services).
• Assists with the formulation and evaluation of equipment needs, preventive maintenance and organization of expendable and non-expendable equipment and supplies related to the program.
• Monitors staff educational needs and performs annual competency assessments for staff.
• Makes program changes within allowable costs and established policies.
• Assists the Home Oxygen Coordinator with the operation of the Home Oxygen Program and Special Pulmonary/ Bronchoscopy Procedures or patient care when needed.
• Maintains Arterial Blood Gas Machinery per TJC standards.
• Communicates with lead respiratory therapist to communicate department needs and changes.
• Organizes work, delegates tasks, evaluates performance, manages fiscal matters and meets multiple deadline.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, variable
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 0000
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.
• 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

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. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.
• English Language Proficiency. Respiratory Therapist (RT)/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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).
The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation.
(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher- grade levels.
(4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard

Grade Determinations:

GS-13 Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:

1. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties.
2. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

1. Ability to supervise employees.
2. Ability to assist in establishing a completely integrated program.
3. Skill in recommending improvements to operations, including new and emerging procedures based on evaluation of data.
4. Ability to forecast resource needs and to manage fiscal matters.
5. Skill in problem solving including conflict resolution.
6. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying levels of background.
7. Knowledge of complex and non-standard examinations, treatments, procedures and techniques.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment is designated as an RRT Assistant Chief. They serve as full assistant to a Service Chief in complexity level 1 and 2 facilities. These facilities may offer specialty care and services and may be affiliated with academic institutions. Individuals are typically assigned to this position at moderately to highly complex respiratory care services within the organization. Supervisory RRTs share the full scope of delegated managerial responsibilities and serve as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Chief. They support department functions at the direction of the Chief. They make decisions affecting staff and other resources with wide latitude of control and independent judgment. They independently provide respiratory services at all levels of complexity. They supervise staff members of different levels of assignments and/or occupation. They provide direction of the program services assigned to them including utilization of resources and budget. They may develop and initiate new programs, develop policies, protocols and procedures, assure compliance with regulatory requirements and monitor staff performance. They assist in determining quality assurance and performance data to be collected. Supervisory RRTs maintain established policies, procedures, protocols and quality assurance programs. They participate in the development of a department level plan for financial and personnel resources. They encourage professional development, resolve conflicts which might interfere with the delivery of services, identify continuing education and training needs, create an environment of learning and serve as a mentor to staff. They attend professional meetings and take responsibility for professional development. They collaborate with other healthcare team members to generate new ideas for quality improvement with regards to administration and overall function of the department, patient care and accomplishment of facility goals. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees.

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-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Active & Unrestricted RRT License
• Active & Unrestricted RRT Credential
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Active & Unrestricted RRT License
• Active & Unrestricted RRT Credential
• Resume. If longer than 2 pages
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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