Occupational Therapist

Summary

This assignment carries responsibility for providing occupational therapy evaluation and treatment to veteran patients according to the Northport VAMC mission and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation guidelines. The incumbent may be assigned and rotated to the following treatment areas : acute inpatient, outpatient, subacute, the Community Living Center (CLC), Home Based Primary Care(HBPC) or a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

Duties

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Duties include but are not limited to :

Functions and Responsibilities :

1. Interprets the consults requesting OT using specialized skills and medical knowledge.

2. Patient medical records are reviewed to assess the appropriateness of occupational therapy intervention, note any potential risks or contraindications to treatment.

3. Evaluates the veterans Occupational Profile providing an understanding of the client occupational history, experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs, motor and process skills and communication / interaction skills. The veteran's problems ar concerns about performing occupations and daily life activities are identified and priorities are determined.

Based on evaluation findings ,patient / family and / or significant other, establishes therapeutic goals and treatment plans to meet the goals established.

4. Develops an intervention plan based on evaluation findings, OT theory and evidence based practice. This plan is to be developed in collaboration with the veteran and care partners as appropriate. The plan will consider potential discharge needs. The plan will include objective and measurable goals with an established timeframe.

5. Make changes to the treatment intervention based on the patient response to treatment i a manner that utilizes creative thinking and problem solving in order to reach maximal functional outcomes.

6. Offers treatment interventions tailored to the client's abilities / needs and design to promote, modify, maintain or restore occupational performance.

7. Documents the veteran's response to treatment, therapists' interventions and the progress toward reaching the desired targeted outcomes as per VA regulations and section guidelines.

8. Completes appropriately timed re-evaluations of the plan; modify the plan / goals as needed to achieve targeted outcomes.

9. Demonstrates knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance in their area of expertise to other therapists within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS).

10. The OT clinician functions independently and uses her own judgment in developing workload, developing programs and selecting proper avenues and resources to meet identified needs.

11. The OT oversees treatment provided by staff occupational therapy assistant (COTA) as well as student program including responsibility for assignment of work performed, recommendations, and, when appropriate, identification of continuing education and training needs. As applicable, the clinician will manage and supervise the students and maintain the role as liaison with affiliated colleges.

12. The OT serves as consultant to other facility personnel / clinicians in solving therapeutic problems and evaluating / treating the most complex cases. At times they may need to consult with other clinicians with more expertise and knowledge for treatment planning as well as the treatment performed.

Customer Service

1. Communicate in a clear, courteous, and respectful way with patients, visitors, co workers and management, and clarifies information received.

2. Monitor customer satisfaction on an on-going basis through random interview with patients and takes proper action to assure customer satisfaction.

3. Respond to customer's requests, inquiries, complaints and follow-up.

4. Display a cooperative attitude, meet the guidelines of acceptable work behavior and will effectively work together to implement the VA mission and goals.

5. Maintains effective relationships with internal and external VA staff and other customers. This includes service chiefs, supervisors, employees and other hospital staff so that minimal higher-level management intervention is required.

6. All interactions with customers, including veterans, employees, peers, and the public, are conducted consistent with the VA's Core Values "I CARE".

7. Integrity : Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.

8. Commitment : Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA's mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.

9. Advocacy : Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.

10. Respect : Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect and earn it.

11. Excellence : Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : 8 am - 4 : 30 pm. Will be expected to work one (1) weekend day.

Functional Statement # : 21020A

Requirements

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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 (). 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 evaluation.
• 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 :

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.

Note : Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start / end dates AND hour worked per week.

(Failure to provide an SF-50 that demonstrates one-year time-in-grade will result in disqualification from being considered)

You will not be contacted for additional information.

Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Basic Requirements :

Citizenship : Be a citizen of the United States.

Education and / or Experience : The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below :

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

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.

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.

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.

Grade Determinations : Occupational Therapist, GS-12

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.

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.

(3) Assignment. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate 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. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. OTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and / or treatment area. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).

Preferred Experience : Experience with the geriatric population, knowledge of MDS. Experience in outpatient clinic and splinting experience a plus.

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Education

IMPORTANT : A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit :

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Note : Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start / end dates AND hour worked per week.

(Failure to provide an SF-50 that demonstrates one-year time-in-grade will result in disqualification from being considered)

You will not be contacted for additional information.

Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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