Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the Rehabilitation Care Line at the Cincinnati, OH VA Medical Center. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The major duties of the Supervisory Occupational Therapist position include, but are not limited to:

Clinical Skills:

(1) Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
(2) Conducts comprehensive examinations, treatment planning and interventions, documentation, and follow-up evaluations within multiple settings and levels of care.
(3) Works with patients from a wide range of ages and backgrounds.

Advanced Skills:

(1) Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a clinical environment that includes the ability to independently triage, assign, evaluate and treat patients who seek occupational therapy services. This includes prescribing and training on assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment.
(2) Demonstrated skill in performance of examination and evaluation of individuals who have or who may develop impairments, functional limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while also considering the effects that are attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors.
(3) Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate tests and measures, and integrate findings into the occupational therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations.

Administrative Functions:

(1) Ensures that the Cincinnati VA Medical Center staff within the PT/OT Program are kept informed as to changes in national, regional or facility policies and directives.
(2) Works closely with RCL Service Chief and AO to ensure that PT/OT staff have sufficient administrative support.
(3) Collaborates with the Medical Center COS and Associate Director for Patient Care Services to ensure PT/OT scopes of practice or credentialing and privileging relevant to PT/OT are evaluated and documented consistently and in accordance with VHA Directive 1100.20(1) and VHA Directive 1100.21.
(3) Effectively manage staff through both clinical and administrative oversight that includes resource management such as supplies, services, space and equipment for diagnostic testing and rehabilitation as well as the ability to assign work and evaluate employees. In this capacity, contributes to the Care Line and facility budget through fiscal
accountability.

Quality Management:

(1) Helps to develop a comprehensive plan of quality management for the RCL in collaboration with AO and other Section Chiefs.
(2) Assists the Service Chief in monthly service and performance reports to the Chief of Staff.
(3) Implements tracer methodology to ensure compliance with patient safety, documentation policies, and standards of care, security and privacy directives. Participates fully in reporting processes such as PATS-R, JPSR, and Secure Messaging.

Communication Skills:

(1) The Chief PT/OT demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers.
(2) Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers. Maintains effective interdepartmental/section relations, cooperating to achieve Care Line, facility and VISN mission/goals.
(3) Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries and oversees Peer Review for the Section.

Mentor:

(1) May serve as Residency Faculty/Mentor as needed by the Residency Program Director and in this capacity:

(a) Maintains certification in Occupational Therapy from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensure in a state for the practice of Occupational Therapy. Demonstrates a professional portfolio that supports his/her qualifications in the identified area of instruction.
(b) Demonstrates familiarity and training in the Resident Competency Evaluation Instrument and web portal navigation ability within Competency AI.
(c) Demonstrates skill in the utilization of the International Classification of Function (ICF) tool.

Continuing Education and Professional Development:

(1) The Chief PT/OT continually seeks to improve knowledge and skill by review of current literature, participation within in-service training, participation and presentations in the Interdisciplinary Journal Club, and attendance at continuing education programs. Works with the OT Supervisors and RCL Management to advance the knowledge and skills of the rehab staff in area of specialty.

Environmental Functions:

(1) The Chief PT/OT demonstrates awareness of safety hazards and takes appropriate corrective action.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm
Telework: Ad hoc only per agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 93506-0
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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment medical evaluation.
• 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/or Experience.
  • The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
    • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR,
    • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR,
    • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
  • Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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:

Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-14.

(1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level and directly related to the position being filled.

(2) [Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

a. Knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing clinically appropriate treatment interventions.

b. Skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with employees, team leaders, and administrators.

c. Ability to manage resources for a large, integrated service including not only occupational therapy, but also other focused rehabilitation, ancillary, or other health care services.

d. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a group of professional staff.

e. Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into cogent and useful policy in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.

f. Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight and supervision of multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.

g. Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, and system reorganizations.

Preferred Experience: 1 year of supervisory experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of an Occupational Therapist are considered "medium duty" with regard to strength and endurance according to the Department of Labor. Medium work entails exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Positional tolerance is required as follows: frequent standing, walking, bending, sitting, crouch/kneeling, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day; sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp, and place papers, charts, and binders; reaching, lifting, carrying,
pushing, and pulling 1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 pounds frequently, and 20-50 pounds occasionally. Occupational Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with examples that may include but which are not limited to the following: operating all aspects of a computer such as keyboarding, mouse, and control buttons; demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for
patient instruction; assembling equipment with use of hands tools such as screwdrivers and pliers; and treatment using specifically designed tools for evaluation/treatment sessions.

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:

• Professional Certification
• 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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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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