Occupational Therapist - Safe Patient Handling Program Manager

Summary

The Occupational Therapist, Program Coordinator executes leadership characterized by managing the Safe Patient Handling Program based on the requirements of VHA Directive 1611, covering all medical facilities and clinics within the Sheridan healthcare system. This is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for the program, which crosses the lines of all services and disciplines that influence the organizational healthcare mission.

Duties

• Participates in planning, design, & construction phases of all projects so that all projects in spaces Veterans use. Completes, leads, and updates ergonomic assessments to implement appropriate SPHM technology to prevent hazards identified across all areas that provide patient care. Performs comprehensive rounding throughout the VA medical facility using the SPHM template within the Performance Logic Application to monitor facility performance measures. Investigates employee & patient safety & health incidents related to patient handling, providing recommendations & tracking these injuries by unit, area, hospital-wide, & across the continuum, in collaboration with the worker's compensation program personnel, facility safety, OSHA record keeper, & facility patient safety manager. Ensures that patients are screened before mobilization & that methods chosen for mobility are safe, effective, & appropriate for individual needs across the continuum of care. Selects & coordinates the acquisition of SPHM-related equipment & supplies with appropriate stakeholders within the healthcare system across the continuum. Establishes & maintains highly effective relationships at all levels of the organization, working in collaboration with VA medical facility stakeholders on resource availability for programmatic support. This collaborative approach ensures that the SPHM Program Coordinator evaluates SPHM staffing methodology/equivalency needs by submitting annually to the National SPHM Program Office. Provides expertise to all individuals & workgroups that handle & mobilize patients or provide or approve patient equipment. This collaboration with the SPHM Program Coordinator ensures that everyone feels confident & competent in their role in program sustainment. Monitors VA medical facility compliance with Directive 1611 & initiates appropriate corrective action if non-compliance is identified. As determined by the facility director, report to the VA medical facility committee at least twice yearly. Establishes procedures delineating local responsibilities related to local VA medical facility SPHM program alignment, implementation, & sustainment. Makes decisions that affect staff & other resources with a wide latitude of control. Uses independent judgment to evaluate, plan, & direct the SPHM program to ensure proper coordination of care with the local facility inclusive of regional/national stakeholders such as The Joint Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), & the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations as appropriate. Communicates with transparency, clarity, & integrity while providing opportunities & resources for the VA facility to schedule, providing employees with SPHM education & training, & maintaining competence for all personnel directly involved with handling & mobility of Veterans. Completes initial & ongoing education, hands-on practice, & competency assessment to manage the VA medical facility SPHM program. This education & competency assessment may include VA facility-funded site visits or in-person conferences to acquire hands-on SPHM handling & mobility skills. Ensures a process is in place for new VA medical facility employees to participate in SPHM orientation. Ensures VHA employees receive ongoing education or competency/proficiency evaluation to maintain competence in their roles and responsibilities. Leads & mentors SPHM unit/service peer leaders on all shifts in all areas that provide patient care to train staff and recognize hazards at the unit or service level. Trains SPHM peer leaders at least once per year, providing training resources & references & periodic opportunities for interaction. Translates evidence into practice throughout the organization. Collaborates with all services throughout the continuum as appropriate to lead, coordinate, & monitor a comprehensive SPHM program that meets the performance criteria. Sustains relationships at the levels to advance SPHM strategic action plans. Advances one's knowledge through the continual application of evidence ­based research. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 4:00pm (some evening hours for training may be required) Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 61477-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Qualifications

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 Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or Experience. Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations.The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) Master's Degree or higher in 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. 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. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator), GS-13 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. Assignment at the GS-12 grade level. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. OTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders. (b) Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities. (c) Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies. (d) Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities. (e) Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury. (f) Ability to effectively motivate and manage a clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Preferred Experience: Two years of program management experience. 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: The physical requirements to perform the essential functions of this job, considering physical mental, and emotional capacities, without endangering their safety and health or co-workers' safety and health are in VA Directive 5019 and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: 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.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/08/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13048966. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.