To provide Occupational Therapy services within the Occupational Therapy (OT) Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) to the Veteran population enrolled at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. Services include provision of high quality and safe rehabilitative treatment and coordination of care with other pertinent VA services.

Duties

Duties are, but not limited to: 1. Assists with the screening, evaluation, and re-evaluation process by implementing specifically, delegated assessments for which competency has been established and by providing verbal or written reports of observations and client capacities to the Occupational Therapist. 2. Receives and interprets instructions from the Occupational Therapist. This includes completing a thorough review of the OT evaluation, treatment plan and patient data and coordinating to ensure that any necessary clarification is obtained. 3. Utilizes more complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills, to maximize client's functional status. 4. Modifies and adapts therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities. 5. Identifies and recommends complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment. 6. Contributes to the discontinuation or transition plan by providing information and documentation to the supervising occupational therapist related to the client's needs, goals, performance and appropriate follow up resources. 8. Carries out client education, specialized treatments, and applies occupational therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and AOTA documents. 9. Knowledgeable about the client's targeted therapy outcomes and provides information and communication to the supervising OT when clients have attained established goals and/or when modifications to the treatment plan may be required. 10. Documents OT services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats, and standards established by the SPRS department and the Bedford VA Medical center. 11. Communicates needs or concerns to the supervising OT, the interdisciplinary discharge planning team or through direct communication with personnel from other VA services. 12. Provides education and consultation to health care practitioners about the client's treatment plan and occupational therapy scope of practice and services. 13. Provides education to client, caregiver, family regarding treatment interventions, e.g., adaptive equipment, approaches, environmental set-up, etc. 1. Participates in continuing education courses and seminars to remain current with advances in the field and to meet continuing education requirements of West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System and State Licensure.1. Documents using standard format in client's medical record as required by certifying bodies. 2. Participates in OT department and PM&R program development and quality improvement projects to include but not limited to peer reviews, committee membership and process improvement projects in accordance with VA and the Joint Commission guidelines. 3. Carries out ongoing personal development to ensure current knowledge in their work position and occupational therapy practice. 4. Assists with education of the medical center staff about the role of Occupational Therapy and services available for Veterans. 5. Completes all VAMC mandatory training in a timely manner. 6. Uses the computer system for storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, transmitting and receiving e-mail, activating printers, requesting leave, and accessing the electronic health record. 7. Maintains clinic areas, equipment and supplies in a clean and organized manner to promote quality treatment in a safe and functionally appropriate environment. 8. Serves management's goal of optimum productivity and adjusts services to meet changing needs of the Veterans served in various programs. 9. Helps resolve client issues/complaints at the lowest level and refers unresolved grievances and complaints to appropriate sources. 10. Follows policies and procedures (operational, privacy, IT security, etc.). 11. Assists OT Supervisor to ensure all employees work in a safe, clean, infection-free environment and promotes these practices. 12. Fosters an environment that values and respects individual differences. Takes an active role in prevention of harassment behavior and adheres to policies. 13. Takes responsibility for ordering supplies to ensure that adequate supplies are on hand and that repairs and maintenance activities are performed. Work Schedule: Compressed tour. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 41167F 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. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below: Associate's [or higher] degree in occupational therapy from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Completion of a military training program in an OTA program accredited by the ACOTE. Certification. OTAs must have written documentation that they have passed the entry-level certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Licensure. OTAs must hold a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a State, Territory, a Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or in the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency. OTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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). Details on Grandfathering are listed in the assessment questionnaire section of this announcement. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-08 (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (ensure these are represented on your resume, clearly...we will NOT make assumptions). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to implement delegated assessments. (b) Ability to provide reports of observations and patient performance. (c) Ability to use complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills to maximize patient's functional status. (d) Ability to modify therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities. (e) Ability to recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment. (f) Ability to consult with health care practitioners about the patient's treatment plan and the occupational therapy scope of practice and services. (3) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level OTA. OTAs at this level receive minimum guidance from the OT and seek guidance for more complex patients and specialized treatment procedures. They contribute to the screening, evaluation and re-evaluation process by administering delegated assessments and reporting observations and patient performance to the OT. OTAs plan, coordinate and administer occupational therapy treatment for prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of diverse diagnoses in all practice areas to both individuals and groups as well as develop and implement new programs. They recommend and modify assistive devices and instruct patients on their care and use to ensure optimal performance. OTAs independently provide patient education on areas of occupation, assistive devices and orthotics based on patient's and families' level of cognition, cultural and/or behavioral variables. OTAs collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to make recommendations for the patient's rehabilitation, reintegration and disposition needs. They develop, participate in and ensure compliance with quality improvement activities through participation in medical center/section committees as delegated. Preferred Experience: Lymphedema certification is preferred. It is preferred for candidates to have 2-3 years of experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/145 Part II Appendix G22. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 8. Physical Requirements: The Occupational Therapy Assistant must be a mature, flexible, individual who uses critical thinking and capable of working effectively in complex situations, and able to shift priorities based on client needs. The incumbent must be able to work in close proximity with others. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially prolonged periods of frequent walking, standing, stooping, sitting, kneeling, and bending for up to 4 to 6 hours. Lifting, pushing, and pulling up to35 pounds. Transferring clients and objects may be required and use of Safe Patient Handling equipment must be used for employee safety. The Occupational Therapy Assistant may be exposed to clients with infections or communicable diseases or exposed to contaminated or hazardous materials.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Kristen L. Johnson
• Phone: 813-816-7155 X100172
• Email: [email protected]