Duties

Major Duties include but not limited to:
Performs comprehensive patient evaluations.

• Evaluates patient's functional abilities using a variety of standardized and non-standardized tests and techniques. Coordinates specialty skilled assessments in the patient's home setting with other HBPC team members.
• Reviews patient medical records to assess appropriateness of The Occupational Therapy intervention, to identify potential risks or contraindications to treatment and to provide assistance in guiding the evaluation process.
• Evaluations address rehabilitation potential, behavior, motor skills, and psychosocial development at an age appropriate level. Barriers to learning are identified and strategies to overcome them developed and implemented to ensure accurate patient evaluation.
• Makes assessments for the Home-Based Primary Care Program including Safety and Functional Assessments are completed on a timely and accurate basis.

Responsible for providing comprehensive Occupational Therapy care to patients.

• Uses evaluation findings to develop and implement a comprehensive patient treatment plan including objective, measurable goals and timelines for completion. These goals are developed in collaboration with the patient, family and/or stakeholder input. Collaborates with other health care professionals regarding patients' performance in the home environment when patient is hospitalized for continuum of care and discharge planning.
• Plans and implements a wide range of occupational therapy treatment modalities requiring an extensive body of knowledge and skills. The patients often have multiple medical problems, which necessitate adaptive treatment practices to meet specific and unique patient needs. Treatment utilizes specific methods or activities to increase or maintain function in the following areas: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, sensorimotor components, sensory integration, cognitive integration, psychosocial components, visual perception, energy conservation, joint protection, body mechanics, positioning and functional transfers, home safety and environmental modifications for fall prevention. Recognizes appropriateness and contraindications to treatment and modifies treatment plans as needed.
• Maintains clear verbal and written communication with patient's families, health professionals and peers to carry out patient treatment program. Active participant in the interdisciplinary treatment team. Coordinates treatment goals with outside agencies including home health agencies, Adult Daycare facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and Medical Foster Home caregivers. Develops patient/family education handouts as appropriate.

Responsible for participating and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and techniques related to Occupational Therapy and other related topics.

• Identifies, collects and analyzes appropriate patient care information to provide a database for research and quality improvement activities within the VHA system.
• Investigates current concepts and scientific principles in Occupational Therapy practice through literature reviews, study of current research, clinical practice and through attendance at continuing education courses and conferences.
• Serves as clinical instructor for any assigned student-affiliated Occupational Therapists or Assistants.

Responsible for maintaining open communication with patients, families, caregivers, Medical Center staff and others. participating and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and techniques related to Occupational Therapy and other related topics.

• Coordinates the operation and function of the HBPC Occupational Therapy Program. Practiced time management and functions autonomously in program development. Serves as the subject matter expert in the specialty or program area and as a consultant to occupational therapy and other medical center staff in the areas of patient evaluation and treatment. Orients patient/caregivers, physicians, allied health professionals, students and volunteers to the purpose and function of HBPC occupation therapy services.
• Seeks clarification, listens and conveys information clearly in written and verbal forms
• Demonstrates the ability tot identify and resolve interpersonal and professional conflicts when dealing with patients, caregivers, members of the treatment team and all Medical Center programs or services.
• Demonstrates tact, courtesy and a positive approach to communication and interaction with other employee, including caregivers, visitors, vendors, volunteers, physicians/extenders, treatment team members and the public.

Work Schedule: 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

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:

• 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:

(1) Must meet at least one of the following requirements below:

(a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two 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 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 occupation therapy.

OR

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

(2) Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive or 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.

d. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy program meet the requirements of subparagraph c(2) above if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in paragraph f. below.

e. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification.

f. State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the Unit 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:
Occupational Therapist, GS-12

(1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 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:
(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.
(b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
(c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients.
(d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
(e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.

References: VA handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12

.Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying; under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4 hours); Standing (2 hours); Both legs required: Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (air permitted); Will de driving a government car up to 50% of the day.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

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.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a VA job announcement includes language requiring applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply to this Job Announcement. VA may request information regarding your vaccination status, if selected, for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .