The incumbent is a member of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Section under Geriatrics & Extended Care/Patient Services and is assigned to the Housing and Urban Development/VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Occupational Therapy.

Duties

The Occupational Therapist is an independent health care professional who is responsible for evaluating referred patients and establishing and executing treatment plans that include a full range of treatment procedures and modalities. Provides comprehensive occupational therapy evaluation and treatment for complex, chronic, and acute disease, mental health and addiction in homeless veterans in all of the Homeless programs, often in their environment (homes, apartments, condos, etc.). The incumbent provides support and guidance for HUD-VASH social workers and case managers and promotes use of HUD-VASH OT services and participate in trainings; and, participate in investigatory activities. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following description: Clinical Performs comprehensive patient evaluations, including, but not limited to: activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, strength, range of motion, sensation, perception, cognition, visual impairment, home safety and environmental modifications, driver screens, wheelchair seating and mobility, orthotics/prosthetic/splinting fitting and training, and dysphagia. Primary patient care responsibilities will be outpatient occupational therapy intervention. Ancillary responsibilities may include inpatient occupational therapy responsibilities, as directed by the Supervisory Therapist PM&R. Evaluates medical history, results, and interpretation of appropriate functional tests and measurements such as: range of motion, muscle strength, sensory/perceptual deficits, coordination, functional mobility, pain scales, and social needs. Responsible for providing comprehensive patient care for O.T. patients. Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories or treatments of occupational therapy and their proper application using therapeutic physical rehabilitation and reconditioning procedures. Participates as a member of interdisciplinary care coordination teams. Other clinical coverage as per patient care needs including inpatient and outpatient clinics etc. Education Assists in the growth and development of the department and the profession through participation in performance improvement and educational activities. Coordinates PM&R focused in-service training opportunities for PM&R and the facility. Identifies, collects, and analyzes appropriate patient care information to provide a data base for performance improvement activities within the VA system. Serves as Clinical Instructor for Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapist Assistant students as assigned. Consults with staff and physicians though patient presentations, attendance, and interdisciplinary patient care conferences and/or specialty clinics. Administrative Review medical records to access appropriateness of occupational therapy intervention, note any potential risks or contraindications to treatment and to assist in guiding the evaluation process. Evaluates findings to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective, measurable goals, and timelines for completion. Modifies treatment plan according to patient response to best meet established goals. Documents treatment progression and/or modifications according to departmental and Medical Center standards. Ensures appropriate patient referrals and discharge planning in conjunction with the Occupational Therapist and Medical Center staff. Complies with standards of provision of health care for all internal and external accrediting bodies such as JCAHO, OIG and OSHA. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-Hoc, on management's discretion and the needs of the agency. 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

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 Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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 Have a 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). 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. 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 / Employee will need to sit at a computer to complete notes and other documents related to patient care. Employee will need to be able to stand, sit, bend knees, and push with arms and legs to provide therapy, and retrieve and work with equipment and supplies related to treatment. 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 when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, GS-9: Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently. OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists. OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT. Occupational Therapist, GS-11: Education, Experience, or Licensure: Completion of one (1) year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; or Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or 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: Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Assignment: OTs at this grade level practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Occupational Therapist, GS-12: Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one (1) year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. 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. Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. Assignment: OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. Note: A valid Drivers License is required for this position. Preferred Experience: Working with the homeless, home-based, and mental health population. 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. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

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 Coatesville VA Medical Center 1400 Black Horse Hill Road Coatesville, PA 19320 US
• Name: Brenda Thompson
• Email: [email protected]