This assignment carries responsibility for providing occupational therapy evaluation and treatment to veteran patients according to the Fargo VAMC mission and the guidelines of the REC ICC/PM RS Therapy Services. The therapist will provide coverage of the services provided by Occupational Therapy in the Acute Care, Extended Care and Outpatient settings as needed, with primary assignments for acute inpatient and subacute inpatients.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Uses evidenced based practice in provision of patient care. Demonstrates knowledge and application of skills to provide professional occupational therapy programming for routine complexity patients; including safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IASL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Demonstrates awareness for and implementation of rehabilitative services for persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improves and/or prevents the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness. Demonstrates the ability to assess and develop occupational profiles for the OT treatment of patients across multiple ages, diagnoses and environments. Administers standardized and non-standardized assessments. Gathers information from medical record, patient interview, family/caregiver, and/or other providers in completing an evaluation of patient status and development of assessment and treatment plan proposal. Addresses activities in plan of care to optimize performance skills and client factors such as: strengthening, range of motion, tasks, and memory and attention exercises. Addresses activities to optimize ability to perform areas of occupation, such as: ADL, IADL, education , work, leisure, and social interaction. Identifies and applies interventions that promote optimum performance skills, addressing motor, process and communication impairments. Identifies and applies interventions that address client factors, addressing mental, sensory and movement impairments. Monitors changes in veteran status through chart review, observation, and physical assessment and determines appropriate actions for further care. Reassesses veteran's response to treatment and adjusts/modifies interventions as needed to progress towards outcomes/goals. Seeks consultation with other team members for adaptations to an assessment, goals and treatment as needed. Demonstrates effective communication skills in all interactions, specifically with patients, caregivers, team members and other professionals. Demonstrates openness and flexibility to modifications of patient care in respect to others' ideas. Actively collaborates and routinely shares information with the patient, medical team and families to create appropriate treatment plans, goals, and discharge plans for participants. Professional growth is pursued through documented continuing education and training activities. Local and national VA educational expectations including but not limited to the Annual Mandatory reviews (AMRs) are completed in a timely manner. Licensure is maintained as a condition of employment. Stays current on professional trends; accomplished by attending in-service training, meetings, attending lectures, reading current literature, attending professional meetings in a community and within the VA system, and individual continuing educational pursuits. May provide limited, short term direct supervision for clinical students and volunteers in the absence of the supervisory occupational therapist. Supports the programming of the OT service to assure efficiency and quality of care provided to patients. Follows and implements OT policies, procedures, quality assurance monitors, and related standards of care. Attend educational and development meeting for the OT and PMRS Services programming. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 4 hour tours, 5 days per week, specific hours to be discussed during interview process. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: (a) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (b) Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: 1. 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 2. 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. 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). or 3. 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. (c) Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix. (d) Certification: Candidates must possess a current 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) 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 under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (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. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed. (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. (g) Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. (h) English Proficiency. [Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).] GS-9 Occupational Therapist Grade Determination: (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS -11 Occupational Therapist Grade Determination: (1) 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. (2) 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. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. GS -12 Occupational Therapist Grade Determination: (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. Preferred Experience: Preferred candidate will have 2 years experience working in acute care and/or subacute care inpatient settings providing care for adults. Additional outpatient experience. References: VA Handbook 5005, 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Fargo VA Medical Center 2101 Elm Street Fargo, ND 58102 US
• Name: Marquell Steed
• Phone: 702-334-7190
• Email: [email protected]