Occupational Therapist

About the role

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Southeast Network (VISN 7) - VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS) in Augusta - Georgia located in the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PMRS).

Responsibilities

• Receives and interprets consults for OT procedures
  
• Reviews medical records to assess appropriateness of the referral to OT and possible contraindications for treatment
  
• Selects and provides direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL (activities of daily living) and IADL (instrumental activities of daily living), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation
  
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures
  
• Completes/reviews all documentation including consultations, evaluations, treatment notes, standardized and non-standardized assessments to track/establish outcome measures, progress notes, discharge notes, patient education, and encounters completed on all patients prescribed in accordance with Station policies (VA - Rehab - OT) for content and established Policy for timeliness
  
• Assesses quality control and evaluation of the professional services provided are managed. The incumbent will devise methods of obtaining and evaluating data to determine the effectiveness of treatment (outcome measures) and identify consistent qualities of successful and failed treatment(s)
  
• May be assigned to any program areas within PMRS/VAHCS - including inpatient and outpatient programs - either and/or any campus and provide professional - independent occupational therapy services
  
• Expected to provide professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, clinical consultation, supervision, and administration in performing these duties - the clinician demonstrates professional knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies for the practice of occupational therapy
  
• Serves as Clinical Instructors (CI) for OT or OTA students - completing all requirements entailed including supervision, documentation, and education
  
• Maintains the case records in accordance with agency and regulatory standards and requirements
  
• Documents all service contacts on a timely basis including face-to-face interviews, collateral and networking contacts, and general correspondence
  
• Completes documentation that indicates appropriate level of supervisory oversight and coordination of care is being completed for OTA(s) and/or OT/OTA Students, based on most current State Practice Acts of Georgia and school requirements
  
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

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)

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist
• Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field
• Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
• 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

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

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 of 12/13/2019 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:

• 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 which includes but not limited to: practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools
• The OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools
• The OT selects and provides direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety - wellness - performance in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) - education - work - play - leisure - and social participation
• The OT demonstrates an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis - behavioral intervention - frame of references - and therapeutic procedures
• The OT is assigned to all program areas within VHA and provides professional - independent occupational therapy services

KSAs:

• Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice
• Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders
• 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

Preferred Experience:

• Prefer at least 1 year of experience however - new grad with license will be considered
• Preference for outpatient/orthopedic Mental Health - Lymphedema - Pelvic Rehabilitation - or Drivers Rehab experience
• Prefer Modality Certified or eligible to apply to meet Georgia CEU certification criteria requirements

Qualifications

Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions

OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation

OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard

Benefits

Competitive salary and regular salary increases

When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized