• Job Description

  Req#: 763536500
  The Occupational Therapist position is assigned to the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a Complexity Level lB facility, in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Therapist in collaboration with the Service Chief. Work may be assigned in any PM&RS area located within the main hospital or at any of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics based upon the needs of the section.
  
  Duties
  
  
  The therapist is responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. They select and provide therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance patient safety, wellness, ADL and IADL performance, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Functions include, but are not limited to:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  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.
  • Education and/or Experience.
    • (1) 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 (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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Grandfathering Provision. 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. (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
  
  Grade Determinations: Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-12
  
  Experience. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. Modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. Select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living; and instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
  
  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.
  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. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0631.
  
  Preferred Experience: Inpatient and Outpatient hospital experience.
  
  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
  
  Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing, walking, kneeling, and sitting. Work involves constant bending, lifting 15-44 lbs., and twisting. The work requires pushing wheelchair and stretcher patients. Positioning patients who are unconscious or disabled requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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