Chief Occupational Therapist: Chief of Physical Medicine Plans, integrates, supervises, and directs comprehensive Occupational Therapy treatment programs for outpatients and inpatients, to include medical and surgical units, MICU, Community Living Center Units, Mental Health, and all OT outpatient programming. Has the full range of supervisory responsibility for all Occupational Therapy and Recreational Therapy staff at BHHCS.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Duties include, but are not limited to: Administrative: 1. Supervises OT/RT personnel; interviews candidates, recommends appointments, advancements, promotions, or disciplinary action to the Professional Standards Board. 2. Develops performance standards, conducts performance and competency evaluations. 3. Prepares section monthly reports, periodic reports and other data collection and reports as needed. 4. Coordinates staffing needs of Occupational and Recreation Therapy departments. 5. Oversees and approves requisition of supplies and equipment, equipment inventories and supply management for OT and RT. Approves requisition of supplies for Geriatrics, Extended Care and Rehabilitation areas OT, PT, RT, and nursing areas. 6. Develops, plans, and implements monitors of quality of care with respect to OT/RT services as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patient within the medical center. Is a member of the Performance Improvement Committee and is a member of the REC Leadership Committee. 7. Assures the cleanliness, maintenance, repairs and successful operation of all OT/RT equipment, treatment areas and operational supplies. 8. Functions as Fee Basis gatekeeper for OT services by working closely with VA personal as well as outside providers. 9. Aware of and adhere to department/service/facility's values, mission, rules, policies and procedures and the American Occupational Therapy Association Standards of Practice and Standards of Ethics to ensure quality patient care. 10. Aware of safety concerns, regulations, polices, and procedures, and employee's appropriate safety practices 11. Manages interpersonal relationships and facilitates conflict resolution regarding employees, team leaders and administrators. Clinical: 1. Plans, directs, and supervises the comprehensive Occupational Therapy program of the Black Hills Health Care System for both Fort Meade and Hot Springs and has full supervisory responsibility for all the programs and therapists involved. 2. Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex, and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge in the areas of occupational therapy. These skills and interventions will be based on current occupational therapy theory, research, and practice. Evaluates patients to determine current level of functioning, such as range of motion, strength, sensory awareness, proprioception, coordination, perception, cognitive and social skills, self- care, orthotic and prosthetic needs, and adaptive equipment, utilizing standardized measurements as well as complex, unique methods to interpret the physical and psychosocial problems of the patient. Data from the evaluation process is used to implement comprehensive patient treatment plans, involving the patient in goal setting as appropriate. 3. Demonstrates independent problem-solving skills that allow for frequent modification of treatment plans in response to subtle, but significant changes in the condition of the patient. The employment of innovative treatment techniques is used to obtain the best outcome. The coordination of multiple treatment approaches simultaneously is needed to accomplish complex treatment objectives. Critical assessment of treatment outcomes will be regularly performed. 4. Supervises and directs the Recreation Therapy program at VA BHHCS, for REC at both physical sites. 5. Assures that OT and RT specialists, therapists and assistants maintain skills and competencies appropriate to their level of function. 6. Responsible for assignment of work area and tour of duty for therapists, assistants, and volunteers; development of new programs, assurance of documentation in patient's medical record; assurance of best possible ongoing patient treatment and education to patients and caregivers in all OT areas. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday, 0730-1600 Telework: If approved, will be on an ad-hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

All requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. 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: 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 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. 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: GS-14 Supervisory Occupational Therapist 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. AND 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 a diverse range of 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 diverse 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Adam Abbott
• Phone: 612-629-7067
• Email: [email protected]