The Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant Lead (Lead PTA) works under the supervision of a Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) to provide services that promote the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction(s).

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The Lead Physical Therapist Assistant duties includes but are not limited to the following: Advanced knowledge in therapeutic interventions. Carries out the treatment plan using specific therapeutic techniques or media to administer treatment, by issuing, adjusting, and/or instructing in the use of prostheses, supportive devices, and assistive devices and educating the patient and family about the treatment program. The Lead PTA may be called on to be a chaperone for therapists or physiatrists. Work is usually performed in the Physical Therapy Clinics, but may take place bedside, in offices, and meeting rooms. The Lead PTA must be prepared to deal with unexpected situations, i.e., cognitively impaired patients who are at risk for accidents, patients whose behavior is inappropriate, and/or medically destabilized patients. They will react quickly and appropriately to life threatening situations, transfer patients and deal effectively with patient emotional needs which may vary throughout the course of their treatment. Work sometimes requires regular heavy physical exertion with paralyzed patients during transferring, self-care, supporting ambulation and standing activities. The therapist is subject to exposure to communicable diseases and must be fully in compliance with use of PPE at all times. Writes treatment notes and encounter information which will be entered appropriately and timely in the computer. Maintains equipment and work areas, performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions and maintains the treatment area in a safe, orderly fashion, and assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials. Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords, water on floor) and takes corrective action. Also helps to un-box durable medical equipment (DME) and help organize the DME in the department and in the storage area. Expected to remain current in his/her specialty area through professional literature and continuing education both on and off station. The incumbent may also be required to participate in the clinical training of prospective PT's or PTA's Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am. to 4:30 pm. Telework: Ad hoc Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English Language Proficiency. [PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).] Education: Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1)[ ] Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR (2)[Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet thee educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR (3)Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.] Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. Grandfathering Provision. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.] All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series [or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard] on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For 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)[ ] Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2)[Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.] (3)[ ] Employees 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 this standard. (4)Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (5)[ ] Employees 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9- One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a)Ability to lead staff, which includes planning, organizing and assigning work and coordinating clinical workflow. (b)Ability to mentor staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices. (c)Ability to assist with PT program development, outcome management and strategic planning. (d)Ability to serve as a liaison between PT staff and department leadership. Preferred Experience: Licensed PTA Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS- to GS-9. Physical Requirements: There will be regular periods of walking, standing, stooping, lifting, pushing of wheelchairs and beds with occasional assist in providing transferring patients on outings and going on home visit.

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 Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Hilda Cobb
• Phone: (919) 408-1864
• Email: [email protected]