Lead Physical Therapist

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/08/2024 to 03/15/2024

• Salary

$86,962 - $113,047 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 12

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Appleton, WI 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0633 Physical Therapist

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CAZP-12346877-24-ml-LH

• Control number

780683300

Help

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration: Current permanent employees of the Milwaukee VA, Product Lines, Canteen and CBOCs

Videos

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Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

This position is organizationally located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the Northeast Wisconsin Ambulatory Clinics Division, Physical Therapy Section.

The duty station of this position is the John H. Bradley Outpatient Clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin. This physical therapist provides professional, independent physical therapy services in the assigned area with the general supervision of the Physical Therapy Section Chief.

The employee meets all regulatory and statutory requirements including graduation from an approved program in Physical Therapy from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university and holds a current license to practice Physical Therapy. Primary function is direct patient care. Independently plans, develops, and implements comprehensive, complex treatment programs for individual patients or groups of patients to relieve pain, restore or enhance performance, and maximize ability to function as independently as possible.

Performs appropriate assessments, evaluations, and treatments, involved in the prevention of physical disability, movement dysfunction, and pain resulting from injury, disease, disability, or other health-related conditions. Additional functions include the interpretation of test and measurements to assess normal parameters of physiological functions as well as pathophysiological, pathomechanical, electrophysiological, ergonomic, and developmental deficits of bodily systems to determine diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention. The Lead Physical Therapist has administrative responsibility for program development and program continuity in the area of outpatient physical therapy.

The incumbent provides administrative direction and decisions related to the physical therapy outpatient program. Typically, other employees rely upon the Lead Physical Therapist for the accuracy, adequacy of programs and activities, and administrative and clinical direction within the outpatient physical therapy section. The incumbent has the ability to monitor and report on the status, progress, and quality of work within the outpatient physical therapy section.

Review of these activities may be done to determine consistency with the policies, procedures, philosophy and the needs of the NEWAC Division, the Rehabilitation Services Division, and the Medical Center. The incumbent ensures that methods, deadlines and quality of service have all been met.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, normal business hours

Compressed/Flexible:

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States

English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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.

OR

• (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.

OR

• (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

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. 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).

Licensure: Must 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.

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the requirements list for the grade levels below.

Grade Determinations:

GS-11 Physical Therapist

Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention.

PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT.

GS-12 Physical Therapist (Lead)

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

(1) Ability to coordinate workflow and clinical activities as well as monitor data reports within physical therapy section to ensure optimal patient care.

(2) Ability to articulate and communicate to the clinical team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives, as well as to advise on work methods, practices and procedures.

(3) Ability to provide new staff orientation, staff development, and training.

(4) Demonstrates advanced skill to serve as mentor and coach of the clinical team.

(5) Ability to manage staffing requirements and priorities, and coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of incomplete work.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

The Lead PT reports directly to a Supervisory PT. He/she monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow. PTs at this level have experience that demonstrates the possession of advanced practice skills and judgment across many areas of physical therapy for both inpatient and outpatient clinics.

Lead PTs are responsible for providing clinical practice guidance for other staff PTs and assist with problem solving. He/she assists PTs in determining treatment options for complex patients with multiple conditions. Lead PTs are responsible for ensuring work is completed by distributing and balancing workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization; assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned workload; and assessing the status, quality and progress of work, and making day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities.

Lead PTs obtain assistance from supervisors or managers on problems that arise. Lead PTs are generally found in higher complexity facilities, or in facilities of lesser complexity levels where large physical therapy departments are found. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting.

Normally such lifting will involve, but is not limited to, assisting with transfers or gait training of the patient in the physical therapy clinic. Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.

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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.