Occupational Therapist - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

About the Role

The incumbent provides comprehensive Occupational Therapy care to inpatient and outpatient veterans and provides cross coverage as needed. The incumbent is responsible for completing complex evaluations and treatments applying advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to veterans with a wide variety of functional impairments. A relocation/recruitment incentive may be approved for highly qualified candidates.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, and carries out Occupational Therapy evaluations and interventions for referred veterans to restore function, compensate for dysfunction, and improve quality of life and independence.
• The treatment program may include use of physical agent modalities if the clinician has obtained proper certification.
• Evaluates the veteran's needs for assistive devices and adaptive appliances, recommends adjustments for prosthetic/orthotic devices, and makes minor adjustments to obtain maximal functional benefits.
• The therapist may fabricate orthotic devices and may make modifications on a wide range of orthoses.
• Receives veteran referrals from appropriate source and assures that veterans are scheduled for evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion.
• Provides Direct Access Evaluations in outpatient setting and ensures veterans are scheduled for follow-up care in a timely fashion.
• Reviews charts to assess appropriateness of the referrals and possible contraindications for treatment.
• Schedules veterans for treatment considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team.
• Maintains flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled veterans and for family conferences.
• Assures all documentation is done in a timely manner as per documentation policy for all veteran visits.
• Functions on a multidisciplinary team, representing the Rehabilitation Department by communicating directly with team members such as the veteran's physician and nursing personnel, social worker, dietitian, psychologist, and other rehabilitation disciplines involved with the veteran's care.
• Advises and instructs medical center staff regarding care of veteran's needs and progress, also providing discharge planning information.
• Continues to maintain and learn advanced skills in this area by attending continuing education courses and training when applicable.
• Always utilizes equipment appropriately and ensures safe operation.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations and demonstrates compliance with fire, disaster, and infection control policies.
• Participates in developing departmental protocols, policies, and teaching materials.
• Performs set-up and pre-cleaning for all reusable medical equipment per policy.
• Under the direction of the supervisor, assumes responsibility for caseload coverage and continuity of care.
• Identifies current and potential problems with participation in formulation of a plan for resolution.
• Assists other therapists in modifying and adapting treatment plans for patient specialty populations.
• Acts as a resource and reliable role model to other staff members and students in areas of expertise.
• Provides direct supervision and teaching of students, volunteers, therapy assistants, and health technicians/aides.
• Assumes responsibility for orienting new staff as assigned.
• Delegates care appropriately.
• Conducts educational in-services to interdisciplinary health care providers as needed/requested and when possible—staffing permits.
• Serves as a resource person on task forces for process improvement when appropriate.

Qualifications

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: The individual must meet at least one of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist (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).
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field (same degree‑program restriction as above).
  • 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 includes 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 20824-122.
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license as referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.
• 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). 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 grade 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 requirements. Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years—or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Grade Determinations:

• Occupational Therapist – GS‑9: Education – Experience – or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Occupational Therapist – GS‑11: Education – Experience – or Licensure: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education requirements above, for the GS‑11 level candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • 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