To provide Occupational Therapist (OT) services within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), both inpatient & outpatient and home-based programs to the Veterans population enrolled at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluations.

Duties

General Description of Assigned Duties: To provide Occupational Therapist (OT) services within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), both in-patient & out­patient and home-based programs to the Veterans population enrolled at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluations. OTs select and provide direct OT 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 the VHA and provided professional, independent OT services. OTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area. OTS may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). Provided services also included the high quality and safe rehabilitative treatment to Veterans and their caregivers, coordination of care with other pertinent VA Services. Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for OT intervention. Performs specialized seated and mobility assessments, write prescriptions for, and train in the use of custom manual and electric mobility special seating systems of all levels of complexity. OTs alert staff of vendor attendance in seating clinics and provide general oversight of the seating and mobility clinics. Assesses patient dysfunction using appropriate tests/tools. Established and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Occupational Therapy care. Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family member, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers.- Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers. Develops, implements, and communicates the Occupational Therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals, current best evidence, & clinical reasoning. Functions autonomously in carrying out patient and inpatient education, specialized treatments, and applying Occupational Therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations. Modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of the patient.- Modifying the treatment plan when either the established goals or timeframes for achievement of those goals has been attained.- Procures, fabricates, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Demonstrates advanced competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills Reviews and co-signs notes written by the OTA to whom the OT has delegated patient care or for patients seen by the OTA. Responsible for accurate documentation of the OT services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats, and standards established by the PM&RS department and the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. ALL OTHER DUTIES ASSIGNED. Work Schedule: Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English Education and/or Experience.(1) 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.(2) 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. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. 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.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). IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Preferred Experience: Inpatient rehabilitation and acute care. GS-11 GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements, I have completed of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-09 grade level and directly related to the position being filled OR, Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR, Doctorate in occupational therapy 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. VA Handbook 5005/127 (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 GRADE DETERMINATION: Occupational Therapist, GS-12 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.](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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14. This vacancy announcement is recruiting for the GS-11/12 level. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing, walking, and sitting. Work involves constant bending, lifting, and twisting. The work requires pushing wheelchair and stretcher patients. Positioning patients who are unconscious or disabled requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions. Lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees.

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 Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center 2300 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 US
• Name: Kyndle Taylor
• Phone: 910-488-2120
• Email: [email protected]