Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Clinical
Evaluations take place primarily in the subacute rehabilitation unit in the hospital building, the OT Clinic or in the Community Living Center (CLC). The OTH conducts an evaluations that gathers information from the medical record, interview of the veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregiver or other providers, observation, and standardized and non-standardized testing and analyzes the demands of the occupation, inclusive of:

1. Areas of occupation: activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure and social participation.
2. Performance skills: motor (posture, mobility, coordination, strength and effort, energy), process (knowledge, organization, adaptation) and communication/interaction (information exchange, relations).
3. Performance patterns: habits, routines, roles.
4. Context(s): Cultural (including cultural contexts related to age, gender identity, and military history), physical environment, social, personal, spiritual, temporal, and virtual).
5. Activity demands: the kid of tools, space, social, timing, body functions, and the body functions and body structures that are required by the activity.
6. Client factors: body functions and structures. These include mental, sensory, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, speech and skin functions, and the body structures that support those functions.

Intervention: The OT develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and the family, caregiver and social support as appropriate. The plan considers the goals of other team members. It considers the veteran's context and activity demands. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes. The intervention is an accepted occupational therapy approach based on theory and evidence. Intervention approaches may include: health promotion, skill remediation or restoration, performance maintenance, modifications of task or environment, and disability prevention.

Maximization of Outcomes: The OTH maximizes patient outcomes by:
1. Reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular intervals.
2. Modifying the treatment plan and goals as needed to support veteran outcomes.
3. Recommending appropriate discharge from OT, based on response to treatment, collaboration with others and the veteran's ongoing needs.
4. Making referrals to other services as appropriate.
5. Improving OT clinical programs through contributions to program development and ongoing program evaluation and refinements.

Health and Safety: The OT optimizes health and safety of self, patients, colleagues, and visitors by:
1. Practicing proper infection control procedures in all patient care and clinical activities.
2. Using all clinical equipment and supplies in the prescribed and safe manner.
3. Following all proper procedures for urgent and emergent disasters and other occurrences.
4. Following all VA and state driving regulations if using government vehicles.

Clinical Information: The OT optimizes interdisciplinary care planning by:
1. Recording patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, Rehab, and OT regulations.
2. Participation in formal and informal methods of communication about patient status, such as via secure email.
3. Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to collaborate on plans of care and discharge planning.

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 662 05803F GS-0631-12
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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).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:(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.

• 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.:

1. 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).
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.
3. 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).
4. 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

Grade Determinations:
GS-9
Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (See basic requirements above)
GS-11
Education, Experience, or Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
OR
Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field;OR(c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

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

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

GS-12
Education, Experience, and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-12 grade level requires completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. 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.
2. Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
3. 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.
4. Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
5. Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.