This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehab Service at the Western New York Healthcare System (The Buffalo Location).The Occupational therapist is responsible for patient scheduling, assessment, goal setting, patient education, treatment implementation and discharge planning for patients referred to the occupational therapy department. 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. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current professional occupational therapy practice. Creditable experience can be obtained through employment as an OT. This may be evidenced by one or both of the following: Active professional practice. Active professional practice includes paid/non-paid employment as a professional OT, and as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure/certification is creditable, provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate OT and subsequently passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification, and the required state regulatory requirements. Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program can be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis. Fellowships or post-graduate training programs are typically in specialty areas such as advanced practice, research, mental health, gerontology, enhanced education, health policy, leadership and therapeutic sciences. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is post-graduate experience as a professional OT directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to professional occupational therapy experience at the next lower level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. e. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, an OT employed 20 hours per week, or on a half time basis, would receive one (1) full-time workweek of credit for each two (2) weeks of service. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, an OT employed 20 hours per week, or on a half time basis, would receive one (1) full-time workweek of credit for each two (2) weeks of service. 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. 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 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. 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 Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, 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: 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. Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. 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. Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. Assignment. 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. References: VA handbook 5005/127, Part II, APPENDIX G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The Occupational Therapist may engage in the following activities/positions/tasks as defined: Lifting/carrying up to 45 lbs. intermittently, frequent walking, standing, sitting. Occasional stooping, kneeling, overhead reaching, fine manipulation, pushing, and/or pulling. In addition, occasional operation of a motor vehicle may be indicated. Resume Reminder: - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. ["The major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: Assignment is to all program areas and provides professional, independent occupational therapy services. May be assigned 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. Ancillary assignments can be given which can include program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is less than 25% of the duty time. Complete comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. Provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness and performance in ADL, IADL, education, work, play, leisure and social participation. Demonstrate 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. Gathers background data, reviews referrals, selects and modifies OT evaluation tools, and evaluates patients determining the level of the patient's physical and psychosocial functioning. Reevaluates patient's progress during treatment at appropriate intervals and discontinues treatment following team consultation when no longer beneficial to the patient. Plans, implements and changes OT patient treatment based on evaluative findings. Establishes measurable treatment goals with individual patients. Discusses treatment and goals with patients and/or families. Treatment that the therapist is responsible for, includes both individual and group activities involving self-care, patient education and leisure area. Therapist utilizes available resources to update and change individual and group activities according to areas of patient need. Recommends, acquires and modifies necessary adaptive equipment to augment patients' independent functioning. Educates patients and/or families regarding the safe use of adaptive. equipment as well as making recommendations for the installation of the adaptive equipment. This may include, but not limited to evaluation for self-care devices, positioning, home environment, major medical equipment, powered mobility prescription and/or home improvement structural alterations. Provides progress records and reports on assigned patients, according to current policies and procedures. Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary team. Communicates in an effective and professional manner with team members demonstrating good judgment. Establishes rapport and a working relationship with patients having various disabilities and backgrounds. Receives direction/supervision from Program Coordinators regarding programming, and specific aspects of patient treatment. Reports or provides information to supervisor and team, as required in clinics and conferences that pertain to assigned caseload. Fabricates and more frequently modifies prefabricated orthoses, fabricates slings or provides prefabricated slings and alters adaptive equipment to accommodate patient's needs as recommended. Instructs and supervises affiliating Occupational Therapy students for varied levels of fieldwork experiences. This includes orienting, educating, evaluating and structuring the student's learning experience. Works closely with and develops expertise about student training with guidance from the Occupational Therapy Educator. Participates regularly in staff meetings, in-services, continuing education and Rehab/OT VISN 2 opportunities. Contributes and provides in-service sessions to staff. Remains current with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service policies and procedures. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, families, Veteran representatives, all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Performs other duties as assigned. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Occupational Therapy Supervisor, PM&R Coordinator, PM&R Service Chief and GEC Care Line Manager, who establishes objectives and department priorities. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 2:30pm, negotiable prior to start date. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 24194-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
