Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration, followed by Agency Employees, Federal Employees, and then US Citizens. Veteran's preference applies.

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The Occupational Therapist's primary function is direct patient care. 100% of time is spent performing clinical duties. He/she plans, develops, and implements comprehensive, complex treatment programs for individual patients or groups of patients to relieve pain, restore or enhance performance, and maximize ability to function independently as possible. The position major duties and responsibilities are:

• Based on the findings from a thorough assessment, plans an effective goal-directed treatment program that is appropriate and indicated for the disability/condition being treated.
• Depending on the setting, proficient in the use of VA Video conferencing (VVC) technology and use of Home Exercise Software to educate the patient.
• Creates a plan of care and refers treatment to an Occupational Therapist Assistant when appropriate.
• Works closely with an interdisciplinary team in the planning and implementing of the patient's treatment program.
• When assessing or providing client care, the therapist considers the age of the client as it relates to the ability to understand directions, provide objective self-assessments, or any other medical milieu appropriate to the overall treatment plan.
• Provides clients and families with counseling, education, information, and training regarding the nature of their diseases or disability, treatment plans and goals, home program, and post program adjustment. This is accomplished individually or with the interdisciplinary team, family and client.
• Recognizes contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by the primary provider and consults with provider if these are in question.
• Appropriately plans client discharge and/or need for continuing treatment and terminates treatment when the client reaches maximum benefit.
• Documents all treatment, progress, education, counseling and training in the patients' medical record. Documentation is completed per station policies for content and timeliness. This includes timeliness of encounters and submission of charges.

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30am - 5:00pm, flexible tour of duty may change based on operational needs
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 82211F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Occupational Therapists must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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
  • PLEASE NOTE: 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 below.
• Certification-Documentation Supplied. Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT.
• State Licensure-Documentation Supplied. 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.

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 REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the Basic Requirements above, the following are the grade requirements.

Grade Determinations for Occupational Therapist GS-12:

• GS-12 Experience, Education, AND Licensure: In addition to the Basic Requirements, an Occupational Therapist at the full performance GS-12 level MUST be certified, licensed, AND possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level directly related to the position being filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education 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).]

Preferred experience: Acute Care

References: 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.

Physical Requirements: Medium strength. 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. Examples of the medium strength required for the position are as follows:

• Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day.
• Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts and binders.
• Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling: 1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 frequently, and 20-50 pounds occasionally.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. Veterans Preference
5. All other applicants.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies but will be applied to all other applicants.

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.