Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to current permanent facility employees, current, permanent agency employees, current, permanent other federal agency employees and health professional trainees (HPTs).

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• The HBPC Occupational Therapist serves as the rehabilitation therapy expert for the HBPC/MFH interdisciplinary treatment team with responsibility for administration of treatment for outpatient populations with acute, chronic conditions with varied physical disorder caseload to include strokes, amputees, total joint replacements, neurological, respiratory care cardiac rehabilitation conditions, etc. Primary qualifications for this position include professional knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of occupational therapy to provide clinical services, supervise or train students and therapists, or perform research with people who have impaired capacities for performing activities appropriate to their age group. The work requires knowledge of the structure and function of the human body, environmental influences and human development, physical and psychosocial dysfunctions. Also requires skill in developing treatment plans to teach new skills, restore performance, or learn compensating skills.
• Clinical Aspects- Therapist must evaluate Veteran needs and skills and develop therapeutic treatment programs while implementing the use of Occupational Therapy interventions including but not limited to: Activity of Daily Living (ADL) evaluations, modify equipment to facilitate safe ADLs, evaluate for upper extremity orthotics, evaluating the patient's home, on admission and annually and as clinically indicated, to identify the need for structural modification and adaptive equipment to improve the safety and accessibility of the home environment, evaluate and educate on home safety and the safe use and maintenance of adaptive equipment, etc.
• Administrative Aspects -Complete the VA clinical reminders applicable to the therapists' assessment. Complete detailed documentation of assessments, re-assessments, care plans, etc. related to the Veterans therapy. Complete Functional Independent Mobility (FIM) tests and relay that info to the Veteran, caregiver and treatment team members. Develop and coordinate educational materials for the caregiver and/or veteran as indicated by the therapists' assessment and Joint accreditation home care standards. Act as a consultant to other HBPC staff and hospital disciplines as needed.
• Quality Improvement/Research - Supports Performance Improvement activities by participating in the development of rehabilitation care indicators, evaluation criteria, collecting continuous quality improvement data, monitoring outcomes and initiating corrective actions. Participates in planning and developing home safety and fall risk related policies, procedures, and goals.

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.

• 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.

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,
    • (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.
  • (2) 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.
  • c. 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 to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix.
  • c. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
  • d. 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.
  • e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
  • f. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
  • g. 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).
    • 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.
    • A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirement.
    • Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment.

• (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

• (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure.
  • (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OR,
  • (b) 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.
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
  • (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
  • (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
  • (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
  • (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
  • (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
  • (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

• (1)Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
• (2)Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • (a) 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.
  • (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
  • (c) 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.
  • (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
  • (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

1. 3 to 5 years of experience providing care primarily to Geriatric patients.
2. 1 to 2 years of experience in home care.

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.