Clarification from the agency

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

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A therapist functioning at the GS 12 level is expected to make changes to the treatment intervention based on patient response to treatment in a manner that utilizes creative thinking and problem solving that goes beyond the typical diagnosis-based treatment pathways in order to reach maximal outcomes.

In addition, the therapist is responsible for his/her own professional development, keeping current with treatment techniques as well as licensure. The individual may be assigned to all program areas which are covered by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Bruce W. Carter Healthcare facility and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services in the assigned area. The therapist is responsible for maintaining comprehensive knowledge and skills for each therapy area. The individual will be expected to work Saturdays/Holidays on a rotational basis.

Clinical Functions: The clinician must fully demonstrate:

• The candidate must fully demonstrate knowledge of contemporary and evidence based OT practice.
• Ability to interpret clinician prescriptions and referrals.
• Skill in communicating, both orally and in writing, with patients, families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process.
• Skill in utilizing appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care.
• knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms to make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment as indicated.
• Knowledge of VA required Drivers Rehabilitation Training.
• Knowledge and ability to perform Home Safety Evaluations.

Administrative Functions: The Clinician will:

• Documents clearly and concisely the physical findings noted during the evaluations as well as changes in medical status via progress notes. A therapist at this level will be able to document appropriately to support the level of care provided. This include understanding and practicing documentation and coding practices for appropriate billing. Clinician must abide to documentation requirements based on Facility specific standards.
• Accurately maintains documentation in keeping with PMR service-level and Medical Center-wide policies.
• Individual may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and the amount of work is not substantial (less than 35% of duty time) i.e. supervision of IT, CWT or volunteers to PMR clinics. Supervises and delegates care of patients to the Physical Therapist Assistant as appropriate.
• The clinician may be assigned a student affiliate and will be responsible for offering feedback during supervision and completing all necessary evaluations during the internship period.
• The therapist is responsible for maintaining comprehensive knowledge with The Joint Commission and CARF standards and will remain in a state or readiness in the event of unannounced surveys and visits.
• Responsible for the safe operation of the immediate clinic area, including submission of appropriate work orders, equipment needs supplies and space utilization.
• Devises a course content and lesson plan for each individual referral depending on the nature of the disability - for instructing the patient in the safe and appropriate operation of motor vehicle. Such course, structuring and planning may change since instruction may be provided in an automobile.
• Instructing the patient in the appropriate State Rules of the Road, basics of automobile (or van) care and maintenance, influence of environmental and outside forces on the driving task, and defensive and evasive driving strategies. Incumbent is responsible for the coordination of this instruction if it is provided by another Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service Therapy specialty.
• Utilizes the Driving Simulator for purposes of initial evaluation, adaptability to the actual motor vehicle, sensory awareness, and perception.
• Engineering specific driving routes for the on-the-road phase of instruction so as to conform to a lesson plan in an effort to insure the safest and most effective means of teaching a determined driving task. This course may incorporate given areas of the health care facility or areas within the proximity of the care facility.
• Selects appropriate vehicle and add-on adaptive equipment best suited to the needs of the individual patient. Incumbent is responsible for installation and maintenance of all the equipment utilized to ensure optimal safety of the patient.
• Responsible for Home Safety Evaluations and submitting all needed requests for DME and any adaptive home equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 31784F
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 only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. RRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, of VA Handbook 5005.
• 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.
• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements in the education and/or experience paragraph if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in the state licensure paragraph.
• Certification (Submit Documentation). Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure (Submit Documentation). 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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date (12/13/2019) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation.

Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist , GS-12

• Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least 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 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 actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The Clinician must:

1. Be able to function effectively under rapidly changing conditions.
2. Be able to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time while on duty.
3. Be able to use proper body mechanics while moving/lifting patients or objects.
4. Frequently be required to do medium to heavy work consisting of lifting, pulling and/or pushing up to100 pounds.
5. Be able to safely push wheeled objects weighing in excess of 200 pounds.
6. Be exposed to repetitive activity approximately 40% of time with keyboard and mouse use.
7. Clinician may be exposed to persons with infectious diseases.

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.