Occupational Therapist

Summary

The Occupational Therapy (OT) position is to promote the independent function and safety of veterans who are located in the subacute rehabilitation and provide recommendations for appropriate placement and services in the continuum of care. The employee will use OT principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence-based practice.

Duties

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Clinical

Evaluations take place primarily in the subacute rehabilitation unit in the hospital building, the OT Clinic or in the Community Living Center (CLC). The OTH conducts an evaluations that gathers information from the medical record, interview of the veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregiver or other providers, observation, and standardized and non-standardized testing and analyzes the demands of the occupation, inclusive of :

• Areas of occupation : activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure and social participation.
• Performance skills : motor (posture, mobility, coordination, strength and effort, energy), process (knowledge, organization, adaptation) and communication / interaction (information exchange, relations).
• Performance patterns : habits, routines, roles.
• Context(s) : Cultural (including cultural contexts related to age, gender identity, and military history), physical environment, social, personal, spiritual, temporal, and virtual).
• Activity demands : the kid of tools, space, social, timing, body functions, and the body functions and body structures that are required by the activity.
• Client factors : body functions and structures. These include mental, sensory, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, speech and skin functions, and the body structures that support those functions.

Intervention : The OT develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and the family, caregiver and social support as appropriate. The plan considers the goals of other team members. It considers the veteran's context and activity demands. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes. The intervention is an accepted occupational therapy approach based on theory and evidence. Intervention approaches may include : health promotion, skill remediation or restoration, performance maintenance, modifications of task or environment, and disability prevention.

Maximization of Outcomes : The OTH maximizes patient outcomes by :

1. Reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular intervals.

2. Modifying the treatment plan and goals as needed to support veteran outcomes.

3. Recommending appropriate discharge from OT, based on response to treatment, collaboration with others and the veteran's ongoing needs.

4. Making referrals to other services as appropriate.

5. Improving OT clinical programs through contributions to program development and ongoing program evaluation and refinements.

Health and Safety : The OT optimizes health and safety of self, patients, colleagues, and visitors by :

1. Practicing proper infection control procedures in all patient care and clinical activities.

2. Using all clinical equipment and supplies in the prescribed and safe manner.

3. Following all proper procedures for urgent and emergent disasters and other occurrences.

4. Following all VA and state driving regulations if using government vehicles.

Clinical Information : The OT optimizes interdisciplinary care planning by :

1. Recording patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, Rehab, and OT regulations.

2. Participation in formal and informal methods of communication about patient status, such as via secure email.

3. Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to collaborate on plans of care and discharge planning.

Work Schedule : M-F 0800-1630

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 662 05803F GS-0631-12

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 :

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.

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 :

OR (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.

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.

Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. :

Grade Determinations :

GS-9

Education, Experience, or Licensure : None beyond the basic requirements. (See basic requirements above)

GS-11

Education, Experience, or Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled

OR

Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs :

GS-12

Education, Experience, and Licensure : Appointment to the GS-12 grade level requires completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities : In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs :

References : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements : You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 : 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 :

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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 windowLearn 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.