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

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
• 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 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 - (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• (2) 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
• c
• Foreign Graduates
• Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current - full - active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix
• c
• Certification
• Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
• d
• 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
• e
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• f
• English Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• g
• Exceptions for the 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)
• Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained
• For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level - the OT must be certified and licensed
• A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirement
• Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years - or converted to a new temporary appointment
• 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: (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
• Preferred Experience: 3 to 5 years of experience providing care primarily to Geriatric patients
• 1 to 2 years of experience in home care
• 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 in the range of GS-09 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Activities may require prolonged standing - extensive walking - bending - push/pulling and lifting
• Hazards include risk of exposure to communicable diseases - toxic substances - electrical hazards and risk of physical injury associated with patients with the potential to lose control or irrational behavior
• Must be able to operate a vehicle and possess the ability to drive long distances and access homes that may be in poor condition and have poor environmental controls.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: The HBPC Occupational Therapist serves as the rehabilitation therapy expert for the HBPC/MFH interdisciplinary treatment team with responsibility for administration of treatment for outpatient populations with acute - chronic conditions with varied physical disorder caseload to include strokes - amputees - total joint replacements - neurological - respiratory care cardiac rehabilitation conditions - etc
• Primary qualifications for this position include professional knowledge of the concepts - principles and practices of occupational therapy to provide clinical services - supervise or train students and therapists - or perform research with people who have impaired capacities for performing activities appropriate to their age group
• The work requires knowledge of the structure and function of the human body - environmental influences and human development - physical and psychosocial dysfunctions
• Also requires skill in developing treatment plans to teach new skills - restore performance - or learn compensating skills
• Clinical Aspects- Therapist must evaluate Veteran needs and skills and develop therapeutic treatment programs while implementing the use of Occupational Therapy interventions including but not limited to: Activity of Daily Living (ADL) evaluations - modify equipment to facilitate safe ADLs - evaluate for upper extremity orthotics - evaluating the patient's home - on admission and annually and as clinically indicated - to identify the need for structural modification and adaptive equipment to improve the safety and accessibility of the home environment - evaluate and educate on home safety and the safe use and maintenance of adaptive equipment - etc
• Administrative Aspects -Complete the VA clinical reminders applicable to the therapists' assessment
• Complete detailed documentation of assessments - re-assessments - care plans - etc
• related to the Veterans therapy
• Complete Functional Independent Mobility (FIM) tests and relay that info to the Veteran - caregiver and treatment team members
• Develop and coordinate educational materials for the caregiver and/or veteran as indicated by the therapists' assessment and Joint accreditation home care standards
• Act as a consultant to other HBPC staff and hospital disciplines as needed
• Quality Improvement/Research - Supports Performance Improvement activities by participating in the development of rehabilitation care indicators - evaluation criteria - collecting continuous quality improvement data - monitoring outcomes and initiating corrective actions
• Participates in planning and developing home safety and fall risk related policies - procedures - and goals
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN17EDRP2@VA.GOV - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized