Supervisory Occupational Therapist - Chief

Description:

The Supervisory Occupational Therapist - Chief (Occupational Therapy Section Chief) has full supervisory and managerial responsibility for planning, directing, and coordinating all clinical and administrative aspects of the delivery of Occupational Therapy, Recreation Therapy, and Creative Arts Therapy services throughout VA Northern California Health Care System.

Requirements:

Basic Requirements :

1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

2. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

3. 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 American Occupational Therapy Association (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

*Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted 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.

4. Certification: Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT.

5. 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.


Grandfathering Provision: 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).

All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. 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. They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
3. OTs 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.
4. OTs 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 the standard.

Grade Determinations :

Supervisory Occupational Therapist, GS-14

• Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level and directly related to the position being filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing clinically appropriate treatment interventions.
  • Skill in interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a diverse range of employees, team leaders, and administrators.
  • Ability to manage [resources] for a large, integrated service including not only occupational therapy, but also other focused rehabilitation, ancillary, or other health care services.
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff.
  • Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into cogent and useful policy in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight and supervision of 12 multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs in complex facilities and/or across multiple sites.
  • Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, and system reorganizations.

Reference: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G14, EFFECTIVE DATE: December 13, 2019. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements:

• Involves considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning.
• Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 50 lbs., but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting more than 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs.
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care.
• The position requires the employee to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally ill clients.
• Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation, and repetitive actions.
• Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities.
• Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste, and chemicals.
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors.
• Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds.
• Emotional and mental stability - ability to effectively perform the essential functions of the position and respond appropriately in emergency situations.