This assignment carries responsibility for providing Occupational Therapy evaluation and treatment to veteran patients according to the VA Tampa Healthcare System mission and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service guidelines. The incumbent is required to apply advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and clients, as well as provide clinical practice guidance for other OT on staff.

Duties

Employee possesses the knowledge and techniques for highly complex cases in vision rehabilitation. Employee demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in vision rehabilitation and their proper application. Employee may work closely with the Optometrist and Neuro-Ophthalmologist at the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital to implement and modify protocols for the treatment of patients. Employee evaluates the need for specific equipment to meet the individual patient's needs. This Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist plans a treatment program with measurable goals, based on evaluative findings and within the boundaries of the individual prescription. Employee modifies the program according to changing patient needs and terminates treatment program when all goals have been met. Independently administers standard treatments in Vision Rehabilitation. He/She provides accurate written and/or verbal documentation of patient status and progress, treatment program plans and patient response to treatment. Employee independently schedules patient visits throughout the day allowing for adequate individual treatment time as well as necessary time for conferences and any administrative tasks. Employee consults with patients and their families through patient family education, training, advising them in the nature of their medical condition and by providing home programs. Employee provides professional oversight and consultation for staff therapists and monitors and evaluates clinically appropriate treatment programs with great autonomy. Employee assumes responsibility for the independent operations of the clinic. Employee secures work area and equipment to provide a clean and safe therapeutic environment. This Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist may be designated as the Acting Supervisor or Manger of the Occupational Therapy Department when the need arises. He/she mentors and assists other occupational therapy staff in the management of highly complex patient cases. Incumbent recognizes the appropriateness of treatment based on indications, precautions and contraindications. He/she recognizes when to refer conditions outside the scope of occupational therapy practice to the appropriate provider. The incumbent possesses specialized clinical skills and is able to demonstrate advanced clinical treatment technique. Incumbent considers the age/gender of the patient when assessing or providing care, as it relates to the ability to understand directions and provide objective self-assessments when implementing the overall treatment plan. Employee supports and is involved in teamwork and/or team building both within the employee's service and other services. Employee represents Occupational Therapy/PM&RS at interdisciplinary team meetings and provides in-service training to hospital staff, as needed. Employee monitors inventory, equipment and supply needs for treatment and informs supervisor of the needs. Employee maintains and carries out all hospital and service policies and philosophies. Employee demonstrates interest in professional growth by attending community or VHA sponsored workshops/seminars on occupational therapy and vision rehabilitation related subject. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am-04:00pm Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 71122F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: 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 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 Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met: Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 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 and one of the following: A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years. Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or An additional advanced degree in a related field Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Assignment. Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research. Preferred Experience: A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area of Vision Rehabilitation. This time must be within the past five years. References: VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14. Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard, VHA, 12/13/2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength according to the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails: exerting 20 - 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Education

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

Note: 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.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Bryan Lewis
• Phone: (404)-304-1931
• Email: [email protected]