The incumbent serves as a core member of a VISN level interprofessional group of clinical reviewers-the Centralized Eligibility & Appeals Team (CEAT). The CEAT is responsible for reviewing complex Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) eligibility cases for admission, ongoing level of care adjustments, and discharge appropriateness. CEAT is also responsible for adjudicating PCAFC applicant and participant first- and second-level appeals sent from other VISN CEATs.

Duties

Collaborative Clinical Decision Making: The Incumbent will review the Veteran's medical record summary, most recent history & physical, findings of recent testing at the facility, caregiver assessment and care team input. The team member will present his/her and other OTs respective findings to the interprofessional team. The team will meet and render a multi-disciplinary decision regarding clinical eligibility, based on all eligibility requirements. If deemed eligible, the team will also determine the appropriate level for participation in PCAFC. Role and Responsibility Significance: PCAFC clinical eligibility determinations require a whole health viewpoint, with critical input from multiple professions and disciplines. The role of the Occupational Therapist is significant to the success of a high-performing, high reliability CEAT, as the Occupational Therapist (OT) is trained on not only how to evaluate an individual's physical and mental health abilities that allow them to successfully interact with the environment through various occupations (e.g., self-care, work, and play/leisure activities) but are also trained on how to promote resilience and well-being through creative care solutions and use of adaptive equipment that increase independence, enhance development, and/or prevent further disability and decrease dependency on a caregiver. In addition to the invaluable understanding of the connections between functional status and personal care services for eligibility determinations, OTs are able to contribute to whole health care planning with recommendations, for the Veterans facility healthcare team to consider, that take into account services and resources that enhance Veteran's occupational engagement and performance. Participation in data management for the caregiver support program and its continuous improvement projects are expected of incumbent. Other Duties but not limited to: Caregiver Support Program Occupational Therapist serves as the subject matter expert and as a consultant to other occupational therapy staff and medical center staff at local, regional and national levels. CSP OTs provide professional guidance and consultation for OT practitioners. They monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs with great autonomy. An Occupational Therapist in this position must demonstrate the ability to apply advanced occupational therapy knowledge, theories, and techniques to a wide range of Veteran populations with complex needs. They apply advanced clinical skills in the following components: Sensory motor, to include sensory integration, neuromuscular and motor; Cognitive integration and cognitive components; Psychosocial skills and psychological components. Uses knowledge of OT programming, the caregiver support program, and hospital programs to identify Veterans appropriate for this level of care and advocates for services. Uses knowledge of programs/service offerings and best practice to apply to all Veterans. Provides clinical practice guidance for other OT practitioners, i.e. advises OT practitioners to use a wide variety of standardized and non-standardized tools, methods and techniques for evaluating the Veteran's physical and psychosocial level of function. The CSP Lead OT provides clinical guidance and mentorship to OT practitioners in developing and adapting tests or techniques when necessary to meet the needs of the Veteran. Integrates information from a variety of sources including results of assessments, input from the Veteran and caregiver(s) when appropriate, and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team to formulate actions and make recommendations regarding treatment. Provides consultation for the development and implementation of a wide range ofinterprofessional treatment. Independently solves complex problems. Frequently collaborates with medical center treatment teams. Works independently with input from the interprofessional team to develop appropriate protocols, procedures, policies, and programming. Oral and written communication is clear and effective. Incumbent provides referral to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services. The Lead Occupational Therapist demonstrates expertise in leadership to assess, prioritize, and address interpersonal or programmatic conflicts at the lowest possible level. Leads and organizes delivery of services to assure continuity and peer accountability for practice and may use experience in this program as training opportunities for the field. Performs additional assignments and duties to advance the Caregiver Support Program, as assigned. Conducts comprehensive clinical review of patient records Work Schedule: 7:30a.m.-4:00p.m. Monday-Friday Telework: Yes Virtual: This is a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91428A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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; 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. (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. 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. OR (d) 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 this qualification standard (12/13/2019) 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. 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: (1) 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.( 2) If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (3) 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. (4) 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 Certification - Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapist (NBCOT) certification as an OT. License - 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. English Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Grade Determinations Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator), GS-131. Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Examples of related experience would include but are not limited to: helping clients navigate clinical resources; conducting Occupational Therapy (OT) related in-service and clinical training; procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living; assisting with special OT projects such as coordination and training of interdisciplinary team members; and independently providing treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients. 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the requirements above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders. (b) Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities. (c) Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies. (d) Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities. (e) Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury. (f) Ability to effectively motivate and manage a diverse clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.] May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred Experience: History of direct work with Caregiver Support Program clients, evidence of knowledge of dementia, evidence of knowledge of pain management/chronic pain treatment, history of work with long-term care clients. References: A Handbook 5005/127, PART II, APPENDIX G14. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0631 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, if designated, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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 VISN 10 VA Health Care System 11500 Northlake Drive, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45249 US
• Name: Mary Ann Kalis Jordan
• Phone: (313) 917-7841
• Email: [email protected]