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Director of Therapy Services

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Richmond, Virginia
Closing date
Dec 11, 2021
Duties

The incumbent provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of PM&R staff Physical Therapists (PT), Occupational Therapists (OT), Kinesiotherapists (KT), Recreational Therapists (RT) Blind Rehab (BROS) and Speech and Language Pathologists whom they administratively and clinically supervise.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following tasks:
  • Provides overall clinical supervision that ensures proper coordination and delivery of care within the therapy sections and the facility at large.
  • Coordinates with other departments throughout the medical center to facilitate the efficient operation of PM&R therapy services that are matrixed into other service lines (i.e. Mental Health, Community Living Center, etc.).
  • Is responsible for the day to day operations of the PM&R therapy services across multiple disciplines.
  • Consults and collaborates with other therapy and physician staff through attendance at specialty clinics and educational presentations.
  • Resolves problems, at the lowest level possible through effective communication and collaboration within and outside of the service.
  • Performs all other duties/activities of a staff therapist as required to maintain licensure and competency required by the department and facility.
  • The incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of age associated changes, illnesses, and potential disabilities involved with work with all adult patients.
  • Incumbent will spend no more that 25% of time providing direct patient care. This position is primarily administrative.
  • Is familiar with and can confidently speak to the continuing education needs of PT, OT, KT, RT BROS and SLP staff.
  • Ensures that therapy staff training in the Talent Management System is completed timely/no delinquencies.
  • Ensures that clinical in-service education is coordinated and efficient, meets the needs of the staff and provides the foundation for the care of the patients served.
  • Supervises PM&R therapy personnel as assigned by the PM&R Service Chief.
  • Responsible for the day to day operations of the PM&R multidisciplinary therapy service.
  • Actively involved in strategic planning and initiatives that support the achievement of organizational goals and ensures that staff understands their role in achieving those goals and related missions of PM&R, CVHCS and VHA.
  • Guides and manages therapy clinics in respect to training, performance, conduct and patient welfare. Directs, assigns and counsels rehabilitation therapy staff on an on-going and as-needed basis.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel


Qualifications

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)

Basic Requirements for Occupational Therapist:
Education and/or Experience:
(1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two years of experience as an occupational therapist; OR,
  • (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field;OR,
  • (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
  • 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.
(2) 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.

Basic Requirements for Physical Therapist:
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.

Basic Requirements for Speech language Pathologist:
Education:
A master's degree or its equivalent in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. "Accredited" means a college or university [recognized] by a regional accreditation organization and a speech-language pathology academic program [recognized] by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Licensure:
The incumbent must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

Grade Determinations:
GS14, Supervisory Occupational Therapist:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSAs:
  • 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.
  • Skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, team leaders, and administrators.
  • 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.
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff.
  • Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into cogent and useful policy in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight [and supervision of] multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • 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.

GS14, Physical Therapist:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSAs:
  • Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas.
  • Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators.
  • Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development.
  • Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work.
  • 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.

GS-14, Speech language Pathologist:
Experience:
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
  • * Ability to supervise, motivate, and manage effectively a diverse clinical staff applicable to a service-level department in a large, complex, or multi-division facility;
  • * Skill in assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees;
  • Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities;
  • Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks and responsibilities;
  • Ability to manage and direct the work of others to accomplish program goals and missions;
  • Ability to accommodate to new and changing work conditions and contingencies, staffing; and
  • Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled service
References:
VA Handbook 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G14, Qualification Standard Occupational Therapist
VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G12, Qualification Standard Physical Therapist
VA Handbook 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G30, Qualification Standard Speech-Language Pathologist

Physical Requirements:
Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion, which involves standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate lifting (25lbs or less) is often required. Sitting at meetings, desks, or computer terminals for documentation purposes is required. Visual acuity to perform daily documentation and work with patients, clinical and administrative staff both within and outside the PM&R service. Mental and emotional stability to work with a variety of clinical and administrative staff and patient populations.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

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