Clarification from the agency

Current permanent Alexandria VA Health Care System employees and satellite locations only.

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The Occupational Therapist carries responsibility for providing Occupational Therapy evaluation and treatment services to the veteran population enrolled at the Alexandria Veterans Medical Center (VAMC) or through the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) served through Alexandria according to the Alexandria VAMC mission and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation guidelines.

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Evaluates the veterans Occupational Profile providing an understanding of the client occupational history, experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs, motor and process skills and communication/interaction skills. The veteran's problems and concerns about performing occupations and daily life activities are identified and priorities are determined. Targeted outcomes are also identified. Initial OT evaluation will follow established guidelines.
• Develops an intervention plan based on evaluation findings, OT theory and evidence-based practice. This plan is to be developed in collaboration with the veteran and care partners as appropriate. The plan will consider potential discharge needs. The plan will include objective and measurable goals with an established timeframe.
• Collaborates with staff throughout the medical center to create an environment that will maximize the veteran's functional abilities and their quality of life.
• Works effectively with treatment team and other health care providers in coordinating the patient's total care. Serves as full team member on assigned wards.
• Assists OT supervisor to assure all employees work in a safe, clean, infection-free environment and promotes these practices among program employees.
• Carries out delegated responsibilities on medical center-wide, division-wide or program-wide committees, special projects, and tasks.
• Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served, and which is appropriate to the cognitive; emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient.
• Demonstrates physical ability to facilitate patient neuro-motor function using hands-on techniques.
• Identifies, recommends, and issues appropriate adaptive equipment and assistive devices and/or DME to address veteran's safety needs, mobility needs, and ADL goals.
• Demonstrates the ability to set priorities, delegate tasks to volunteers and work study students, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines.
• Maintains clinic areas, equipment and supplies in a clean and organized manner to promote quality treatment in a safe and functionally appropriate environment.
• Appropriately plans client discharge and/or need for continuing treatment and terminates treatment when the client has reached maximum benefit.
• Documents all treatment, progress, education, counseling, and training in the client's medical record.
• Independently renders specialized occupational therapy treatments and procedures based on the assessed need of the client.
• Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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
  • 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
• Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
• Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

• 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.

• Occupational Therapist with 3+ years experience preferred.
• OT with experience working with polytrauma/TBI patients.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.