Career Center

The nature of this Occupational Therapy (OT) position is to promote veterans' independent function and safety in their everyday activities in a broad range of outpatient services. These outpatient services include strategies to manage self-care in the home, upper extremity function, basic orthotic fabrication and instruction, and assessment and recommendations, prescriptions, fitting and training in the use of mobility devices. 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: (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 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. Exception for Graduate Occupational Therapist. OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-12 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, APPENDIX G14. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0631, dated December 13, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Per VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - a physical examination will be conducted based on the physical requirements of the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. ["Clinical\n1. Evaluations: Evaluations take place primarily in the outpatient setting, the community and patients' homes, through telehealth and phone visits, with occasional assignments as listed above. The OT conducts an evaluation 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, including body measurements, and solicits goals of the Veteran and significant others and analyzes the demands of the occupation, inclusive of:\na. Areas of occupation: activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure and social participation. b. Performance skills: motor (posture, mobility, coordination, strength and effort, energy), process (knowledge, organization, adaptation) and communication/interaction (information exchange, relations).\nc. Performance patterns: habits, routines, roles.\nd. Context(s): Cultural (including cultural contexts related to age, gender identity, and military history), physical environment, social, personal, spiritual, temporal, and virtual.\ne. Activity demands: the kind of tools, space, social, timing, body functions and body structures that are required by the activity.\nf. 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 and considering the goals of the veteran and family, caregiver and social support as appropriate. The plan is in the context of other programs and services the Veteran may be receiving. It considers the veteran's context and activity demands. 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. The therapist carries out the plan which may focus on, but not be limited to:\na. Activities that optimize performance skills and client factors such as: strengthening, range of motion, fine motor tasks, and memory and attention exercises.\nb. Activities to optimize ability to perform areas of occupation, such as: ADL, IADL, education, work, leisure, and social interaction.\nc. Prescription and training in use of durable medical equipment (DME).\nd. Prescription of, fitting and training in use of simple to gradually more complex wheeled mobility and seating systems.\ne. Recommendations for home modifications, to create safe access into, out of and within the home.\nf. Screening for orthotic needs and applying orthoses when required.\ng. Fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints and adaptive equipment as needed. Administrative: The OT supports the veterans, the OT Section, the Rehab Service, the SFVAHCS facility and the Agency by:\n1. Maintaining all required records, including: encounter entry, consult completion, and others as requested.\n2. Submitting Prosthetic Consults in a timely manner and according to proper protocol.\n3. Monitoring clinic supply inventory and ensuring adequate supply levels according to Rehabilitation Service protocol.\n4. Maintaining a safe and orderly clinic environment.\n5. Participating in development and analysis of Quality Improvement (QI) indicators and completion of QI audits.\n6. Contributing ideas to the design of occupational therapy patient documentation forms.\n7. Sharing ideas and concerns about the operation of the OT Section with the OT Section Chief.\n8. Maintaining awareness of administrative duties, assignments and meetings throughout the year, such as staff meetings, cleaning assignments, receipt of deliveries, and others as requested. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]