The Occupational Therapy (OT) Supervisor is assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Services of SAVAHCS. The incumbent has full responsibility of supervision of a staff of licensed occupational therapist and occupational therapist assistants, providing a broad range of services in the following settings: outpatient, acute care, and the Community Living Center.

Duties

The incumbent provides leadership and direction for the OT section in PM&R Service and guides staff in their use of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines. The incumbent will plan, direct, and coordinate all clinical and administrative aspects of a multifaceted therapy program within the SAVAHCS. He/She will develop treatment programs which integrate outcomes and advancements in practice from current research findings. The supervisor is responsible for developing policies and procedures and administrating comprehensive occupational therapy for Veterans. The supervisor of occupational therapy will assess and evaluate the delivery of occupational therapy services to specialty populations by staff members based on: education, competencies, personal experience and research studies and resolve problems that interfere with delivery of services. Clinical The incumbent will provide direct patient care when appropriate to meet workload demands. He/she uses advanced skills and knowledge of occupational therapy theories and techniques to evaluate patients as appropriate for their age and diagnosis to determine current levels of function. Based on evaluation findings and planning with the treatment team, patient/family and/or significant other, establishes goals and eventual discharge plans. The therapist is expected to have extensive knowledge of the treatment principles applied for the following diagnoses: orthopedics, neurology, amputation, spinal cord injury, burns, traumatic brain injury and cognitive and psychological impairments with associated behaviors, blind or low vision, auditory and diseases specific to the traumatically injured population. In addition, patients treated throughout the service have a variety of acute and chronic medical, surgical and neurological impairments. Therefore, this position requires knowledge and understanding of treatment methods, assistive technologies and techniques used by all the therapy disciplines. Direct Patient Care The clinical work involves planning and facilitating treatment programs for patients with complex impairments (acute and chronic medical, surgical, orthopedic and neurological impairments) and providing therapeutic interventions to meet functional goals: Evaluation to include client history, role and occupational profile, motivation, occupational performance skills, patterns and factors, functional activities, mobility, process skills and communication/interaction skills. Problems and concerns specific to occupational performance, performance skills and client factors will be identified with treatment priorities and targeted outcomes identified. Offer treatment interventions tailored to the client's abilities/needs and design to promote, modify, maintain or restore occupational performance. Document the veteran's response to treatment, therapists' interventions and the progress toward reaching the desired targeted outcomes. Reevaluate the plan; modify the plan as needed to achieve targeted outcomes. Determine the need for continuation, discontinuation or referral. Develop and coordinate educational materials for the caregiver. Customer Service Communicate in a clear, courteous, and respectful way with patients, visitors, co-workers and suppliers, and clarifies information received. Monitor customer satisfaction on an on-going basis through random interview with patients and takes proper action to assure customer satisfaction. Respond to customer's requests, inquires, complaints and follow-up. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Occupational Therapist Supervisor, GS-0631-13 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) Master's Degree or higher 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix. 3. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. 4. 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. 5. 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 (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (3) OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Preferred Experience: None Grade Determinations: Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-13 Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. (b) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service. (c) Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution. (d) Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools. Assignment. Supervisory OTs at this level are generally found at complex facilities. The supervisory occupational therapist is responsible for the supervision, administrative management and direction of the occupational therapy program in an OT section or equivalent work group. They have oversight for planning and directing the staff assignments in a variety of clinical settings. The supervisory OT provides a Veteran/client centered environment while enhancing staff engagement. Typical duties include: assigning work; monitoring clinical performance; resolving staff conflicts; identifying continuing education and training needs; and preparing performance standards and ratings. They interview candidates for positions; recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; administer leave; and coordinate staffing needs. Supervisory OTs may provide occupational therapy and have capacity to care for more complex patients. They develop/initiate new treatment programs which integrate outcomes and advancements in practice from current research findings. The supervisory OT serves as an instructor in the facility's in-service clinical training program. They serve as an advocate and resource consultant to the therapy staff and facility-at-large through communication with other departments, physicians, external agencies and other groups regarding programs and operation of the occupational therapy section. References: Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard. VA Handbook 2005/127 Part II Appendix G14 Dated December 13, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing, bending, walking and periods of lifting during patient transfers. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of a hospital setting. Employees will be required to follow universal infection control precautions that may include having to "gown and glove" when providing treatment to patients.

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.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: David Tweedy
• Phone: 520-312-5779
• Email: [email protected]