Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital is a tertiary level, 1A facility in VISN 12 and is one of the largest hospitals in the metropolitan area serving Veterans from six community based outpatient clinics in rural areas. Hines VAH provides primary, extended, and specialty care. SALARY RANGE: GS-11: $80,994- $105,289 GS-12: $97,079 - $126,198

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The Physical Therapist will serve as the CSP Clinical Assessor in the Caregiver Support Program with primary responsibilities to provide clinical evidence-based services and interventions; provide caregiver, Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues; engage in community outreach and resource development; continuous quality-improvement activities, and evaluation/consultation. The role of the Clinical Assessor is significant to the success of a high-performing, high reliability CSP team. As a trained Physical Therapist, the Clinical Assessor not only knows how to evaluate an individual's physical and basic mental health abilities that allow them to successfully interact with the environment through various occupations (e.g., self-care, work, and leisure activities) but are also trained on how to promote prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and pyscho-social disfunction. In addition to the invaluable understanding of the connections between functional status and personal care services, PTs are able to contribute to whole health care planning with recommendations, for the Veteran's healthcare team to consider, that take into account services and resources that enhance Veteran's physical engagement and performance. The CSP Clinical Assessor assists in the day-to-day operations of the Caregiver Support Program and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and VA Central Office Caregiver Support Program initiatives Collaborates with the other members of the CSP team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensuring equity of access, service, and benefits to this population, and ensures the care provided is of the highest quality. Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs as assigned. Updates program management of any potential shifting trends in workload or programmatic concerns and assists with providing recommendations to enhance program effectiveness Serves as a liaison between the CSP staff and the Program Management regarding specific clinical issues concerning veterans and caregivers assigned to this incumbent's team Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran wellness contacts to assess caregiver stress/burden and the development/application of directed clinical treatment interventions. Provides caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the treatment of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and national level or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Social Work Executive, or Chief of Social Work Services Develops and facilitates caregiver support groups and educational programs and distributes educational materials provided by VA, local, state, and national caregiver organizations. Serve as a consultant for navigating the complex processes caregivers, Veterans, and their families encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Stays informed regarding current federal and state legislation directed at assisting caregivers to continue to provide caregiving in an environment that is safe for both themselves and the Veteran. Participates in caregiver support activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of the caregiver and participates on state and local caregiver support committees Actively participates in CSP program conference calls and attend trainings offered by CSP. Maintains familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the CSP. Assists the Medical Center with MISSION Act implementation, as it relates to CSP and PCAFC & PGCSS expansion. Functions as a care coordinator and utilizes case management strategies to assist a caseload of Veterans and Caregivers. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Authorized; 1-2 days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000

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: 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: 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. 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-11 Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as 6 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Preferred Experience: Experience in Mental Health programs and Caregiver program support program experience. Experience with direct caregiver and Veteran assessments to assess caregiver stress/burden. Awareness of clinical interventions to facilitate the treatment of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress, and social needs. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position requires travel into the community to provide clinical support to Veterans in their homes and meet with community agencies and partners who aid, help, and provide support to the Caregiver Support Program, its Veterans, and caregivers. In the performance of duties, the incumbent is required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. This position is telework eligible and is a driver.

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

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Amy McCrary
• Phone: (708)953-5124
• Email: [email protected]