Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, and U.S. Citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The primary function of this OT Clinical Assessor is direct patient care, including completing functional assessments to a diverse population in outpatient and community settings within CSP Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Accept and respond to OT/CSP consultations, and document evaluation and treatment in compliance with CSP and Occupational Therapy policies.
• Complete Veteran functional assessments, including the VFAI, for the PCAFC.
• Possesses skill in independently utilizing appropriate screening and standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools required to appropriately provide and direct the OT care plan in multiple settings.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in Veteran care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis.
• Performs comprehensive written documentation of evaluations/assessments, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Educates multiple service lines within the facility about the Occupational Therapy scope of practice.
• Conducts data collection as specified or requested by the Supervisor of both Social Work Service and CSP for projects related to continuous process improvement for quality assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI) for the CSP program.
• Continuing education and training will be focused on maintaining and improving competency in all general clinical functions but will also include coursework directed toward the development and improvement of clinical instruction, data collections and reporting techniques, and utilization and reporting of outcome measures.
• Covers administrative positions/responsibilities within the service when needed/assigned.
• Adheres to infection control programs and maintains full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment (RME) per OBVAMC Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and manufacturer's instructions.
• Assures the cleanliness, maintenance, repairs, and successful operation of all Occupational Therapy equipment and treatment areas.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am- 4:30pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00990F/ 00991F/ 00992F
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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle.
• Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process.
• 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 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).

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 Determinations:

GS-09: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-11: 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 Doctorate in occupational therapy.

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

• 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.

GS-12: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

In addition to the experience 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.

Reference: 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-12.

Preferred Experience:

• 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 tool

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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:
Current permanent VA employees of the (Overton Brooks VA Medical Center)
All other VA employees
Current Permanent Federal employees of other agencies
All other applicants

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on the Veterans' Preference.

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.