SUPERVISORY PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

The Section Physical Therapy Supervisor is responsible for completing complex evaluations and treatments. Required to apply advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and patients, as well as provide clinical practice guidance for other staff therapists.

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

Primary duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Provide Leadership

• Serve as a mentor to staff PT's and service as a liaison between staff and supervisors.
• Participate in interviewing and selecting candidates for Physical Therapy positions.
• Assist with orientation of new Physical Therapy staff.
• Assist Physical Therapy Supervisor in planning and developing various treatment programs to meet patient needs, as requested by Chief of Rehabilitation.
• Assist the Physical Therapy Supervisor in planning and utilizing staff, equipment, and space in Physical Therapy to support the Rehabilitation Service's objectives.

Operational Management

• Responsible for the triaging of Inpatient Physical Therapy consults to ensure consults are handled in the most expeditious manner based upon acuity of need.
• Assign consults as appropriate.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Dayton VA Medical Center.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Physical Therapy service.
• Provides input on leave and schedules based on patient care needs.

Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Improvement (QI):

• Assists in the development, planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care (ie. Functional outcomes) with respect to Rehabilitation as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the Dayton VA Medical Center.
• Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the Rehabilitation Supervisor.
• Helps ensure Physical therapists maintain competencies.
• Reviews and make recommendations on supply and equipment acquisition.

Treatment:

• Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred for Physical Therapy.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Dayton VA Medical Center.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care.
• Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers.
• Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers.
• Modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient.

Documentation:

• Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Demonstrates advanced competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills.
• Entering consults within the Rehabilitation Service (i.e., to Occupational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with Rehabilitation and medical center policies.
• Reviews and co-signs notes written by PTA to whom the PT has delegated patient care or for patients.

Education:

• Identifies continuing education needs based on performance of the Inpatient Physical Therapy staff.
• Educates other facility personnel in the scope of Rehabilitation services and programs involving a variety of health care specialties.
• The Inpatient PT Supervisor continually seeks to improve knowledge and skill by reviewing current literature, participation in, in-service training, and attendance at continuing education programs especially in their area of expertise.
• Continuing education and training will be focused on maintaining and improving coursework directed toward the development and improvement of clinical instruction, data collections and reporting techniques, and utilization and reporting of outcome measures.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Maintaining state licensure.
• Completing all VAMC mandatory training in a timely manner.
• Completing Event Capture and Encounter information in accordance with Dayton VA guidelines.
• Using the computer system for storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, transmitting and receiving e-mail, activating printers, requesting leave, and accessing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Covering administrative position/responsibilities within the service when assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 94087-0
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.
• 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 examination.
• 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 and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
• (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• (4) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non- 4 profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

• 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. NOTE. Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetency or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
• Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.
• Grandfathering Provision. All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

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-13 Physical Therapist (Supervisory)
(a) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department.
2. Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
3. Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a physical therapy staff.
4. Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution.
5. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
6. Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems.
7. Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community.

Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory PTs are responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the physical therapy program in a rehabilitation service or equivalent service-level department which consists of three or more PTs or other multi-discipline staff. The incumbent provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of the staff that He/she administratively supervise. Supervisors are responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to address focused clinical needs and the overall services delivered and provided within the section. He/she demonstrates autonomy in performing supervisory responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, assigning work to employees, monitoring workload and clinical volume, reviewing work of employees to assure accuracy and validity of submissions, assuring adequate clinical staffing, imposing disciplinary measures, and monitoring clinical privileges. He/she is required to provide overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care within the section and the facility.

Preferred Experience: Inpatient, acute and SNF, experience and supervisory experience.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13 to GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Work may require physical stamina, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

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:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)

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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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