This Physical Therapist, Clinical Specialist position is in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&RS) services at the VA Boston Healthcare Systems.This position is a full-time at 40 per week.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY This position will primarily be assigned to the West Roxbury physical therapy. This Clinical Specialist PT position will also have lead responsibilities to support day-to-day operations and employees within the Spinal Cord Injury Section at West Roxbury and Brockton Campuses, as well as other areas in the absence or in coordination with other leads. Patient care coverage at other VA Boston Campuses could be required on an as needed basis. This position reports to the Service Line Manager. The Physical Therapist will independently manage a caseload of individuals with Spinal Cord injuries, primarily inpatient, as well as other neurological conditions. The therapist will be expected to have at least 3 years of recent experience treating Neurological patients, strong consideration for candidates with experience in Spinal Cord Injury in addition to leadership and/or program development/program management. The duties include but are not limited to: perform independent patient evaluations using appropriate standardized tests; independently develop, implement, and modify physical therapy treatment programs; recognize contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by referring provider; provide timely and accurate written documentation of patient status, progress with therapy, therapy plan, and patient response to treatment in accordance with policy; interact professionally and courteously with all VA staff, patients, and patients' families/caregivers, and managing caseload at a productive standard. This position also will be a mentor for the VA Boston PT Residency Program(s). A more detailed position description is available in Human Resources Management Service. Incumbent functions as a Physical Therapist, Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, for the Physical Therapy Department, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) of the VA Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS). The position requires a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) who works independently with general guidance from the Service Line Care Manager and Physical Therapy Supervisor. A minimum of two years of direct and continual clinical experience in the specialty area of neurologic rehabilitation is required and the incumbent must have a current Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS) credential through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). The primary function of this position is to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of all patients but particularly those with complex neurological conditions. Incumbent demonstrates independence with ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment, including the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Full time, Monday- Friday. Weekend/Holiday rotation Compressed/Flexible:Not available. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04788 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process. Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 Non awarded, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated drug testing required
• 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

Qualifications

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 experience. 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 bachelor's 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. 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) (a) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: 1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or 3. Completion of a fellowship program; or 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (see paragraph 2i). 3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.). References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G12 Preferred Experience: Individual has evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in Neurological Physical Therapy. This time must be between the past two and five years; or Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or Completion of a fellowship; or an additional advanced degree in a related field. Strong leadership and communication/teaching skills. Preference for Spinal Cord Injury rehabilitation expertise. Leadership skills and growth mindset with a commitment to supporting the team, department, and system. High level of autonomy in advanced clinical decision making and system/process improvement. Program development skills and/or experience. Physical Requirements: The work involves standing, stooping, lifting (frequently greater than 50 pounds), sitting, pulling, assisting patients in transferring from various devices (bed, W/C, floor, motorized vehicles, mats etc.). Additionally, moving patient and supplies and pushing patient in their manual or motorized W/C's. Additionally, the PT is required to work at a computer workstation to complete his/her documentation of incidents involving a patient and the progress in the patient's overall PT Program.

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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Karina Santos
• Phone: 401-752-6750
• Email: [email protected]