Occupational Therapist (Supervisory)

This position is organizationally aligned under the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Audie L. Murphy Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. This position is part of therapy services and reports to the therapy services program manager (or section chief). This position will provide direct supervision for Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) staff and matrix OT and PT staff as stated below.

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/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
  • 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. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
  • Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix.
• 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.

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: Supervisory Occupational Therapist

1. Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
2. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
   1. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
   2. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service.
   3. Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution.
   4. Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.

Preferred Experience:

1. Minimum of 3-5 years of clinical practice as a licensed Occupational Therapist, with demonstrated advanced competency in
   evaluation and treatment planning.
2. Prior supervisory or team-lead experience in a hospital, multi-clinic network, or large healthcare system.
3. Experience overseeing day-to-day clinical operations, including staffing, productivity management, and patient-flow coordination.
4. Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop clinicians, including new graduates and students.
5. Familiarity with performance management, competency assessment, and supporting staff through skill development.
6. Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including nursing, physicians, case management, and rehab leadership.
7. Strong understanding of regulatory standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, state practice acts) and documentation compliance requirements.
8. Background in program development, quality improvement initiatives, or clinical process optimization.
9. Demonstrated leadership in implementing evidence based practice and supporting clinical education.
10. Experience with electronic medical records and data driven decision making for scheduling, outcomes tracking, and productivity
    management.
11. Ability to foster a positive team culture focused on patient centered care, staff engagement, and continuous improvement.
12. Prior experience providing care in diverse clinical settings such as acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient, or specialty programs.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

Responsibilities:

Major Duties:

Therapy Supervisor, Occupational Therapist has the following duties, which may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Apply appropriate principles of Advanced Clinic Access/Systems Redesign to the therapy sections to establish and manage day to day work assignments, management of fee basis/contract staffing, and long-range planning.
2. Assign, evaluate, and ensure the safety of subordinate staff, during the workday as well as resolving problems which may interfere with the delivery of therapies across multiple services. This includes coordination of the weekend schedule and oversight of staff delivering weekend care in the acute setting.
3. Coordinate therapy services and provide coverage as needed to ensure optimal collaboration with other healthcare providers within the VA/DoD facilities and community as needed.
4. Make certain staff apply appropriate practice framework in clinical skills: performance and engagement in contemporary, evidence-based therapy services as the process relates to client factors to support participation for improved outcomes.
5. Continuously evaluate staff assessments, treatments and knowledge-based competencies in the areas of OT and PT as applicable. Analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity.
6. Provide and/or arrange for competencies training with various treatments, equipment, and therapeutic modalities. Develop and implement appropriate orientation and training programs when appropriate. Ensure appropriate sectional use as defined by evidence-based practice and professional guidelines.
7. Utilize extensive rehabilitation knowledge to develop local policy and provide timely completion of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with follow up communications and training to staff.
8. Ensure that staff have a safe and clean work environment.
9. Responsible for ensuring that all OSHA, joint commission, and other accrediting bodies standards, as well as all facility safety guidelines and infection control policies are being met in the treatment areas.
10. Assure confidentiality compliance as defined in the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act.
11. Assure accuracy of reports submitted by lead therapist / clinical specialists, clinical education coordinators, and team/program leaders.
12. Reports findings to the appropriate leadership, related supervisors and makes program changes accordingly to improve patient care and employee satisfaction.
13. Set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems
14. Collaborate with leadership to track, project, and analyze data related to employee productivity and performance improvement as related to staffing needs.
15. Complete interviews and recommend candidates for consideration in the sections; recommend advancements and actions; evaluate performance and identify continuing education/training needs, etc for all staff.
16. Advise and collaborate with the therapy services program manager/section chief to ensure that Performance Measures and Transitional Measures assigned to their respective department(s) are met.
17. Utilize skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution to address staff needs and concerns.
18. Assist with clinical studies, projects, programs, committees, and boards when identified by the Service, the VISN, and/or VHA. This may include Patient Health Education, CARF, and The Joint Commission (TJC).
19. Other duties as assigned by leadership.

Additional responsibilities may include:

1. Responsible for submitting requests for non-expendable equipment and reviewing the equipment needs and budget with the program manager/section chief.
2. Represent PM&R service in developing and maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships, while cooperating with other services to accomplish the medical facility's mission and goals.
3. Represent VA at the VISN and national level through lectures, education, and training.
4. Responsible for special assignments associated with the preparation for CARF and TJC surveys, as applicable, and ensuring that the standards are met.

Major Duties will continue in Education section below:


Work Schedule: 0730-1600, 0700-1530, or 0800-1630; Monday-Friday
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Duty Location of Position: The duty location would be wherever the selected employee is currently located, be that ALM, New Braunfels, NWHCC, or Kerrville.

Salary : $108,001