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

The VA Boston Healthcare System is seeking a full-time Occupational Therapist for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) as part of the Geriatrics and Extended Care Homecare Coordination Team. Candidates must hold a current registration with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and a current state license. This candidate will be part of an interdisciplinary team and their role will be to guide veterans and caregivers through support, practical strategies, and interventions to increase safety and independence in their home environment. The position will create and implement action plans to improve occupational engagement and problem solving to improve self-efficacy and behavioral change. The plan is for this position to be housed out of the Brockton campus but will be telework eligible once the position is fully operational. This position may also be required to go to any of the three campuses as needed within VA Boston Healthcare System (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brockton, Plymouth CBOC and Lowell CBOC). This position reports directly to the Occupational Therapy Supervisor and PMR Service Line Manager. The duties include but are not limited to: perform independent patient evaluations using appropriate standardized tests; independently develop, implement, and modify occupational therapy treatment programs; recognize contraindications and appropriateness of treatment prescribed by referring provider; provide timely and accurate written documentation of patient status, progress with therapy, therapy plan, and patient response to treatment in accordance with policy; interact professionally and courteously with all VA staff, patients, and patients' families/caregivers, and managing caseload at a productive standard. A more detailed position description is available in Human Resources Management Service. Preferred Experience: Individual should have at least two (2) years of acute care experience and should be able to make autonomous clinical decisions. It is also preferred that they have worked in more than one type of medical setting specific to the geriatric population. Experience in program development and innovation is also highly preferred. Work Schedule: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday/8:30am- 5:00 pm, Weekend Rotation/Holidays Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Situational (Ad Hoc) Telework: Employee requests to work at an alternative worksite with supervisory approval on an occasional, non-routine basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F06247 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen J. Chapman, Human Resources Assistant (Compensation), VISN 1 Compensation Center of Excellence, Veterans Health Administration - New England Healthcare System, Email: [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Travel Required - This position may be required to go to any of the three campuses as needed within VA Boston Healthcare System (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brockton, Plymouth CBOC and Lowell CBOC).

Requirements

Qualifications

Health Professions Trainee (HPT) upcoming graduates 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. HPT includes interns, residents, fellows, VA advanced fellows, and pre- and post-doctoral fellows who spend all or part of their clinical training experiences at VA facilities.Health Professions Trainee is a general term used to describe individuals appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). Trainee academic levels include undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, interns, residents, fellows, and VA advanced fellows; and pre- and post-doctoral fellows. COVERAGE. The following are requirements for appointment as an occupational therapist (OT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These requirements apply to all OTs in the General Schedule (GS) GS-0631 series, including those assigned to VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, readjustment counseling service/Vet centers, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) offices, the VHA National Center for Organizational Development, and VHA Central Office. This work may include any one, or a combination of the following: providing professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, clinical consultation, supervision, and administration. In performing these duties, OTs demonstrate professional knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies for the practice of occupational therapy. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. Education and/or Experience. (1) 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; 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 (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.c. c. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in this appendix. d. Certification. Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OT. e. 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. f. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. g. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. a. Occupational Therapist, GS-12 (1) 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. (2) 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. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14, dated December 13, 2019 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. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection.

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 Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Jonathan Montgomery
• Phone: 734-905-2529
• Email: [email protected]