Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. citizens. *** If you ARE a current permanent federal employee, please apply to the Internal Announcement CBSU-12559127-24-MJR***

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-Plans, integrates, and implements Occupational Therapy in the HBPC Program.
-Perform comprehensive evaluations directed at ascertaining the patient's functional status, rehabilitation needs, goals, and rehabilitation potential.
-Modifies goals and treatment based on response to care.
-Perform a final evaluation and discharge the patient if objective goals have been reached or maximal rehabilitation improvement has been obtained.
-Provide clinical services in the homes of HBPC Veterans, and when appropriate through the use of telehealth and/or VVC (VA Video Connect).
-Travel within the catchment area of VAWCHCS and possess and maintain a valid state drivers license.
-Serve as subject matter expert and consultant to OTs and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating geriatric patients in HBPC and across Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC).
-Function as a staff Occupational Therapist in all settings, including inpatient and outpatient Geriatric and Extended Care Services.
-Evaluate referred patients, establish, and execute treatment plans that include a full range of treatment procedures and modalities.
-Provide backup coverage and/or assigned duties to support GEC programs when needed.

Administrative

-Assist HBPC Program Manager in updating and maintaining HBPC Occupational Therapy policies and procedures.
-Coordinate the efficient operation and function of the HBPC Occupational Therapy program.
-Understand and adhere to policies and procedures for the GEC Service and HBPC Program.
-Participate in GEC and HBPC performance improvement program development and regular monitoring of important aspects of care.
-Provide timely statistical reports as required by the HBPC Program Manager.
-Ensure compliance with applicable Joint Commission and VHA standards within the HBPC Occupational Therapy program.
-Ensure proper supply levels are maintained for patient treatment.
-Participate in HBPC staff meetings.

Clinical

-Evaluates all HBPC patients referred to Occupational Therapy and implements appropriate treatment regimes.
-Documents initial assessments, treatment plans and response to treatment as determined in subsequent patient home visits, telephone calls, and case management work, according to HBPC policy and Joint Commission standards.
-Uses standard and nonstandard methods for evaluating issues in the home environment to identify potential problems and a baseline level of function. -Evaluates and treats patients not in their home environment.
-Develops appropriate treatment plans and goals, including determining appropriate home modifications needed to increase patient safety and level of independence.
-Performs a full range of OT treatment procedures modifying the treatment according to the patient's response to intervention and pre-existing medical conditions.
-Terminates treatment objectives when met/and/or the patient has achieved maximum benefit from rehabilitation services.
-Performs and documents reassessments, recognizing changes in patient's needs and reestablishes priorities for care, seeking assistance as necessary.
-Effectively uses EMR, other computer software and VVC as needed to complete assigned duties and provide care to veterans.
-Presents patients to physicians and other HBPC team members with information regarding performance, current status, and continuing goals.
-Works effectively with treatment team members and other health care providers in coordinating the patient's total care.
-Assesses need for, measures, fits, and instructs patients/caregiver in the safe use of any issued adaptive equipment and/or assistive devices.
-Justifies special equipment requests.
-Monitors patient's tolerance to therapeutic procedures, including tolerance for prescribed adaptive equipment.
-Recognizes unanticipated rates of progress, significantly altered physical/mental status of patient, and/or undesirable secondary effects of treatment.
-Effectively communicates and educates, both orally and in writing, with veterans, caregivers, family, and co- workers in the following manner.
-Develops and involves patient/family/caregivers in establishing realistic, measurable goals, cares and education.
-Initiates and completes documentation in the medical record to reflect teaching, patient/caregiver response and outcomes.
-Performs all required documentation in a timely manner, meeting service, Joint Commission, and Medical Center standards.
-Provides patient/and or family/caregiver, and/or refers to patient/and or family/caregiver to Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service for the appropriate forms for the patient to apply for Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA).
-Completes VA Clinical Reminders applicable to the OT's assessment.

Work Schedule: Wed- 08:00am-12:00pm, Thu & Fri- 08:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54323-A
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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 30, 2025. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications was October 11, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date are referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***

Basic Requirements:

-Citizenship
Be a citizen of the United States.

-English Proficiency
Candidates 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 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.
• Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and 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.
• Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.

-Foreign Graduates
Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to below.

-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.

Grade Determinations:

Occupational Therapist-Clinical Specialist, GS-13

-Education, Experience, and Licensure
Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled AND one of the following:

• A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years.
• Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA.
• Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area
• An additional advanced degree in a related field.

AND

-Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
• Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
• Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
• Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
• Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
• Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.

Assignment
Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years experience. Experience in Geriatrics, Primary Care, and/or Home Care, as well as experience working in multi-disciplinary environments, is preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This position requires frequent bending and lifting, and the ability to assist patients with a variety of therapeutic activities. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to chest height and maintain good body mechanics.

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.