Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent Harry S. Truman VAMC employees.

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The incumbent is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in Geriatric Occupational Therapy. The Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Geriatric who works at this level provides assessment and treatment intervention on an independent basis across the continuum of care and services provided by PM&RS. The duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• establishes diagnosis within the scope of Occupational Therapy
• formulates treatment plan and goals and is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of treatment
• applies knowledge of the anatomical, biological, physical, cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial changes that occur with aging clients, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes, including the interpretation of examination findings and appropriate intervention plans for aging individuals, familiarity with medications commonly prescribed for older adults, drug interactions and factors to consider when providing Occupational therapy interventions to older adults, indications and contraindications for risks of restraints, alternatives to Occupational restraints use that are safe and least restrictive, and assessing elderly clients for positioning device, enabling devices, environmental adaptation, and caregiver intervention with regards to risk reduction
• develops, coordinates, and implements highly specialized treatment programs within his/her assigned clinic, based on best practices for patient/client management, to relieve pain, restore or enhance performance, and maximize independence in functional abilities
• considers the age/gender of the client, when assessing or providing client care, as it relates to their ability to understand directions and provide objective self-assessments when implementing the overall treatment plan
• develops evidence-based and patient-centered Occupational therapy interventions for conditions commonly encountered with older adults, emphasizing functional ability, and considering principles of optimal aging
  across physiological systems
• provides information to older adults and their caregivers about the continuum of long-term care services and supports - such as community resources, home care, assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing facilities, sub­acute care facilities, and hospice care
• serves as a mentor to other therapists/students in the evaluation and treatment in the areas of geriatric Occupational therapy
• provide in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the Supervisor of the Occupational Therapy Department or Rehab Coordinator
• design, conduct, and evaluate educational experiences within specialty content area for staff members, taking an active role in literature searches, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Occupational Therapy Department, PM&RS, and the Medical Center
• develop program planning, staff education/training, QI monitoring, and program evaluation within area of specialty
• perform competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries
• perform other tasks as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible:Not available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Geriatric GS-0633-13
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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 trial 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure. 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Geriatric GS-0631-13
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;
OR,
Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
OR,
Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area;
OR,
An additional advanced degree in a related field.

In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Generally, assignments at this grade level require the knowledge, skills, and competencies normally acquired through post-graduate residency or fellowship training programs.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

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


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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13 .

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk, to get to other hospital locations on a daily basis, standing, repeated bending, reaching overhead, and pushing Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift, prolonged sitting, moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 pounds.

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.