Supervisory Physical Therapist

This position as SCI/D Service Physical Therapy Supervisor - hereafter referred to as "Rehab Therapy Supervisor -" is located within the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) Center of the Rocky Mountain Regional (RMR) VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Aurora - Colorado - under the administrative oversight of the SCI/D Service's Rehab Therapy Line Care Manager and in a primarily autonomous capacity. RMR VAMC is one of 25 Regional VA Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder Centers of Excellence throughout the nation.

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.

• Citizenship
• Candidates must be a citizen of the United States
• After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens - necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States
• Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned
• English Language Proficiency
• Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Education
• 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
• NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree
• In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate - master's - and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs
• Effective 2002 - CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree)
• Effective 2015 - professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students
• NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university
• The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs
• Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.(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-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
• Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist (Supervisory) - GS-13 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
• 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 diverse 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
• Preferred Experience: Completion of a VA aspiring supervisor &/or leadership program
• holds a clinical specialty certification (GCS - NCS - OCS)
• 3 or more years serving patients with Spinal Cord Injury - MS - & ALS within both Inpatient and Outpatient settings
• 3 or more years of clinical program management with effective planning - implementation - and assessment that resulted in positive patient care
• References: VA Handbook 5005/99 - Part II - Appendix G-12 Dated February 7 - 2018
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical - mental and emotional capacities - without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

• Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: a
• The Rehab Therapy Supervisor's role is primarily administrative in respect to sharing direct clinical oversight of SCI/D Rehab Therapy Section staff in settings of Inpatient - Outpatient - and Home Care
• b
• The Therapy Supervisor works in a supportive role and reports to the SCI/D Service's Rehab Therapy Line Care Manager
• c
• The Rehab Therapy Supervisor's role is also clinical in respect to providing patient evaluation and treatment interventions for the Veteran population served by the SCI/D Center
• d
• Works closely with SCI/D local - VISN - and National Representatives to ensure the SCI/D System of Care complies with VHA's Central Office
• e
• Serves as a rehabilitation services subject matter expert and is a representative on the leadership team for accreditation and site visits - including but not limited to Joint Commission - OIG - CARF - and PVA
• f.The Rehab Therapy Supervisor works closely with the Prosthetics Department Leadership and Representatives in the prescription and ordering of DME and is responsible for assisting in the development of local and DME guidelines
• g.Functions to provide timely access - efficient service - and seamless transition in care for all Veterans and active-duty personnel served by our medical center in the SCI/D System of Care through the development of coordinated services
• h
• Serves as a point of contact and subject matter expert in areas of specialty to outside interest groups - such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association - American Physical Therapy Association - and American Occupational Therapy Association - while following Medical Center guidelines
• i
• Assists the SCI/D Central Office through support of standardization initiatives and pilot projects
• j
• The Rehab Therapy Supervisor is responsible for personal development to ensure current knowledge within position and profession and provides mentorship of staff
• Supervisory Controls a
• Directs staff in establishing protocols for the efficient and effective delivery of patient care within the complex SCI/D system that supports a highly integrated and specialized staff and diverse programming
• b
• Provides for delivery of patient care in areas of expertise as required
• c
• Provides direct patient care appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient - as well as tailoring rehabilitation or substitution interventions and services to meet the needs of the Veterans' specific spinal cord injury level or disease progression stage
• d
• Assists as needed to augment staff during periods of increased workload or staff shortages
• e
• Provides clinical supervision and administrative direction of the SCI/D rehabilitation staff (Physical Therapy - Occupational Therapy - Speech-Language Pathology - Recreation Therapy - and Rehabilitation Engineering)
• f
• Identifies problems that interfere with the delivery of services to beneficiaries - taking whatever measures necessary to ensure alignment of the SCI/D Center - RMR VA Medical Ctr - and VHA are accomplished
• g
• Serves as a consultant to Medical Center staff - academic facilities - and specialty organizations in areas of expertise to include: 1
• Competence appropriate to the age of the patient and related changes associated with aging
• 2
• Evaluations and treatment of patients in - but not limited to - the following areas: Spinal Cord Injury: Paraplegia and Tetraplegia - Multiple Sclerosis - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Other \"Disorders\" of Neurologic Origin - Other secondary diagnoses - including but not limited to: TBI - Polytrauma - amputation - CVA - and orthopedic issues
• Other Administrative Responsibilities Provides for a safe environment of care for staff and patients
• Demonstrates and ensures that clinical staff follow - the appropriate Standard Operating Procedures and manufacturer's instructions for any step in the use of reusable medical equipment (pre-cleaning - reprocessing - disinfection - sterilization - and maintenance
• Assists Human Resources - SCI/D Service's Rehab Therapy Line Care Manager - and the SCI/D Administrative Officer in the development of position descriptions - functional statements and performance plans that communicate clear expectations to staff and ensure fully successful performance by all staff members
• Assists in recruitment and employment decisions Serves as a rating official for SCI/D rehabilitation staff's yearly performance reviews - recommending awards - counseling staff to develop strategies for improvement - or when necessary - assisting in corrective action
• Conducts ongoing performance appraisals with staff
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 58859-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized