Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 2
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 3
• Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: 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 American Occupational Therapy Association (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 *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
• 4
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT
• 5
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation
• Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Grade Determinations: 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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
• 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-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength per the Department of Labor
• Medium Work entails: exerting 20 - 50 pounds of force occasionally - and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently - and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work
• (i.e.: more than exerting of to 20 points of force occasionally - and/or up to 10 pounds frequently - and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.)
• Occupational Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment.

Duties

• Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Evaluations: Evaluations take place primarily in the inpatient setting at the bedside and in the OT Clinic and may also take place in the CLC and outpatient settings
• 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 and analyzes the demands of the occupation\\ Intervention: The OT develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and 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 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 OT maximizes patient outcomes by: a
• Reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular intervals
• b
• Modifying the treatment plan and goals as needed to support veteran outcomes
• c
• Recommending appropriate discharge from OT - based on response to treatment - collaboration with others and the veteran's ongoing needs
• Health and Safety: The OT optimizes health and safety of self - patients - colleagues - and visitors by: a
• Practicing proper infection control procedures in all patient care and clinical activities
• b
• Using all clinical equipment and supplies in the prescribed and safe manner
• c
• Following all proper procedures for urgent and emergent disasters and other occurrences
• Clinical Information: The OT optimizes interdisciplinary care planning by: a
• Recording patient care activities in evaluation - reassessment - daily and discharge notes following all VA - Rehab - and OT regulations
• b
• Participating in formal and informal methods of communication about patient status - such as via secure email
• c
• Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to collaborate on plans of care and discharge planning
• Administrative: The OT supports the veterans - the OT Section - the Rehab Service - the SFVAHCS facility and the Agency by: 1
• Maintaining all required records - including: encounter entry - consult completion - and others as requested
• 2
• Submitting Prosthetic Consults in a timely manner and according to proper protocol
• 3
• Monitoring clinic supply inventory and ensures adequate supply levels according to Rehabilitation Service protocol
• Educational 1
• Develops and conducts OT section - interdepartmental and intradepartmental in-services and ongoing training on topics of rehabilitative and OT care
• 2
• Provides supervision of OT interns and volunteers when assigned by supervisor
• 3
• Contributes ideas to improve the OT intern training program
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday to Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized