The Montana VA Health Care System, Social Work Service is currently recruiting for one (1) Occupational Therapist, at the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, OR the Great Falls VA Clinic.

Duties

This position is within the Caregiver Support Program of the Montana VA Healthcare System. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Advises and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams throughout the medical center on caregiver issues. Creates educational tools, develops programs and implements training focused on specific caregiver needs/issues. Provides education and in-service training to VAMC employees, Veterans, families and caregivers. Provides ongoing consultation and support to colleagues regarding caregiver support. Develops and facilitates caregiver support groups (face-to-face or virtual) and educational programs. Supervises occupational therapy students and health profession trainees as assigned. Conducts caregiver and family clinical interventions to facilitate the identification of caregiver stress, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues. Collaborates with the patient aligned care team, mental health and geriatric primary care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on caregiver issues. Assesses functional abilities by conducting physical and cognitive assessments to include but is not limited to: activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, supervised protection, motor and sensory functions, and cognitive perceptual function. Independently administers and interprets recognized tests and measurements to determine baseline level of functioning and treatment applications which will enable patients to achieve valued functional outcomes. Facilitate groups, provide education, conduct home visits; evaluate home and provide strategies to help ensure safety, and advise on adaptive equipment and provide demonstration/teaching. Educates patient and caregiver in the proper application/installation/use for a specific device. Monitors patient's response to program, summarizes and analyzes patient's performance, and modifies program and goals when necessary to meet patient's needs as situations and performance changes in order to attain projected functional outcomes. Responsible for knowledge of the eligibility criteria for the PCAFC, day-to-day operation of the program, and all reporting requirements within the assigned VISN. Works with interdisciplinary team members at VISN and facility levels to ensure coordinated and directed eligibility determinations for the PCAFC. Conducts comprehensive clinical review of patient records to identify the presence of Veteran need for assistance with personal care services and/or supervision or protection needs daily. Collaborates with and contributes knowledge to a community of practice across VISN's and Regions with Caregiver Support Coordinators (CSCs) and CEAT members. Collaborates with rehabilitation teams; assesses Veterans' environments and contexts, including home safety, and communicates findings and recommendations to the interdisciplinary team. Assists the Medical Center with MISSION Act implementation, as it relates to CSP and PCAFC expansion. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Available - required to be onsite 1-2 days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55759-O, 55760-O, 55761-O/Occupational Therapist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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; 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. 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs that meet the requirements of a degree program in occupational program approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations, if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. 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, or in the District of Columbia. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program [who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements,] but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to-exceed two years. (2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification. In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. The human resource office will notify the uncertified/unlicensed OT in writing of the requirement to obtain certification/licensure, the date by which the certification/license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified/licensed by the deadline date. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: GS-9 In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled;] OR (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy. Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)]. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. GS-12 Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience or education 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. Preferred Experience: Experience performing patient evaluations and clinical records to identify the Veteran need for personal assistance. Experience completing direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity. Experience providing trainings and education for staff. Mental health experience. Experience working independently. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12. 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. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, 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. Transcripts (official or unofficial) must include your name, the school's entire name, name of course(s) completed, date course(s) taken, grade received for course(s), amount of credits earn for the course(s), date degree conferred (if applicable), name of degree received (if applicable).

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 Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: David Curry
• Phone: (918)-577-3493
• Email: [email protected]