Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

Duties and Responsibilities of the Physical Therapy Assistant (Program Coordinator) include but are not limited to the following:

• The Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Coordinator works under the supervision of a Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) to provide services that promote Whole Health, the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction(s).
• The incumbent will provide cross coverage of clinical and administrative function and other duties as assigned per direction of Supervisor.
• The incumbent is the PTA Program Coordinator managing all aspects of Performance/Quality Improvement, High Reliability efforts, and Innovations Champion within Whole Health Service.
• The incumbent is responsible for the implementation of Whole Health System of care for patients receiving care.
• The incumbent independently runs programs in assigned specialty area and serves as consultant for other PTAs, clinicians, nursing, and other healthcare professionals within assigned specialty area.
• The Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant works in a variety of clinical settings throughout this teaching facility.
• Although diagnoses vary from clinic to clinic, the Assistant is expected to carry out a full range of prescribed treatment with a substantial degree of independence.
• The incumbent is experienced with expertise in a variety of areas and is well founded in anatomy, physiology and the theoretical principles of physical therapy.
• The incumbent performs established tests and measurement procedures at the direction of the PT and reports findings for use by the staff therapist in designing treatment plans considering limiting factors, such as: age, mental status, energy expenditure, range of motion and cognitive skills.
• The incumbent documents progress toward goal attainment according to approved formats and communicates directly with other providers in assigned program specialty area, nursing staff, physicians, and family members.
• Responsible for the delivery of Whole Health Coaching and skill development of the local Medical Center's Whole Health System of Care including provision of care through coaching and promotion and education regarding Whole Health Coaching to Veterans and staff.
• The incumbent provides care to Veterans seeking self-directed, lasting changes aligned with their values
• Provides interventions that promote health and wellness and enhance well-being, improve health-related outcomes, reduce likelihood of inpatient admission, and improve quality of life. In the course of their work, Health Coaches display unconditional positive regard for their Veterans and a belief in their capacity for change, and honor that each client is an expert on his or her life while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgmental.
• Collaborates with Veterans and Veterans' primary care and specialty care treatment providers to develop goals designed to improve health outcomes, reduce risk from chronic illness, and lessen the likelihood of admission to ED, inpatient care, or long-term care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F 0730 - 4:00pm
Telework: This position is eligible for Ad-Hoc Telework only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000

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 dentification 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.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR
  • Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR
  • Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.
• Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or 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 Determination: Physical Therapy Assistant (Program Coordinator), GS-10
(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the lower grade.
(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Skill in program management/administration to include direction, development, consultation, negotiation and compliance.
(b) Ability to apply advanced knowledge of the program to interdisciplinary team functions, goals and outcomes across multiple areas of practice.
(c) Ability to serve as a consultant to internal and external stakeholders regarding the program.
(d) Ability to serve as facilitator in coordinating program initiatives among multiple teams and departments.
(e) Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and make performance improvement adjustments as indicated.
(f) Ability to mentor and train others in the assigned program area.

Preference: Nationally Board Certified Health Coach NBC-HWC

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-10.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Must have, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech. However, these impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of any of these functions may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Must be able to sit, stand, bend, twist lift/push/pull up to 40 pounds.

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:

• License
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

• Cover Letter
• License
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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

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