This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

This Occupational Therapist (Outpatient) position is for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the VA Bedford Healthcare System located at the Bedford, Massachusetts location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week. This position requires a fully licensed and registered Occupational Therapist that works independently requiring minimal guidance from the Occupational Therapy Supervisor. The primary functions of this position are to perform Occupational Therapy (OT) examinations and evaluations, interpret clinical findings, establish a diagnosis and prognosis within the scope of OT, and implement appropriate OT intervention plans for all Veterans referred. The ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a direct access environment is required. The Occupational Therapist's evaluations may occur on campus in assigned areas, community-based outpatient clinics or Veteran's home. Duties include, but are not limited to: Actively engage Veterans in activities to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living or maximum function within their lifestyles. Review complex medical histories, with multiple comorbidities and impairments, limitations and restrictions related to their condition in order to provide specialized care. Evaluate, intervene, educate families and caregivers while demonstrating professional judgement concerning a treatment plan. Exercise originality in solving problems and making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the complex and highly varying needs of Veterans. Conduct independent and specialized evaluation of the Veteran by using a variety of standardized and non-standardized tests to determine occupational therapy needs. Recognize contraindications, precautions and parameters prescribed by referring provider and consult with referring provider/team if these are questionable. Develop an effective and client centered treatment plan that is appropriate and indicated for the disabilities and conditions being treated. Establish short and long-term goals for patient care plan that are objective, measurable, ensuring any modifications are implemented to achieve goals. Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday; 8:00am-4:30pm (Possible additional weekend day and holiday coverage as needed) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 518-F2279 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

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. The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(14). Citizenship - Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a)). 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 requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; OR, (b) 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 (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. Graduatesof 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 Occupational Therapy 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. Preferred Experience: Skilled nursing facility and short-term rehab experience preferred. Wheelchair knowledge for evaluations and treatment preferred. References: VHA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14; GS -12 Occupational Therapist The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent stooping, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs and lifting in conjunction with treatment of patients. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from falling. Dexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are required.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Bedford Healthcare System 200 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 US
• Name: Elizabeth Nowak
• Phone: 401-273-7100 X14335
• Email: [email protected]