The VA San Diego Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders (SCI/D) Center is seeking a SCI/D Occupational Therapist (OT) to provide direct care to inpatient and outpatient veterans with SCI/D, including traumatic and non-traumatic SCI, as well as ALS and Multiple Sclerosis. Experience working in the VA and with people with SCI/D is preferred.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Demonstrates knowledge of contemporary and evidence-based OT practice especially as it relates to SCI/D. Integrates the international classification of functioning framework as a conceptual basis for definition and measurement of health and disability. Demonstrates the ability to interpret clinician prescriptions and referrals. Evaluates a variety of patients as appropriate for their diagnoses to determine current levels of functioning. Evaluations may cover the following areas: activities of daily living, strength, and range of motion, sensation, perception, and cognition, vocational and avocational aptitudes. Evaluations take into account the patient's lifestyle, culture, social support system, the patient's military, work and leisure history, and limitations of abilities related to the patient's age. Based on evaluations, and planning with patient and significant others (when appropriate), and coordination with the interdisciplinary team, establishes treatment goals and plan of care. Educational Orients patients, families, residents, allied health personnel, students, and volunteers to the purpose and function of occupational therapy. Participates in occupational therapy student training programs, within scope of experience. Receives guidance from the SCI/D Service Chief, SCI/D Therapy Manager, and SCI/D medical provider staff. Attends and participates in section in-services, medical center educational offerings, professional conferences and workshops. Remains abreast of frequently changing VA-related guidelines in the environment of care and safety. Administrative Maintains patient attendance records. Completes daily, weekly and monthly statistics as required by the department in a timely manner. Complies with SCI/D health care group guidelines for content and timeliness in completion of required patient documentation. Complies with OT stocked prosthetic procurement processes to maintain accurate inventory levels. Is able to process consults appropriately - including scheduling and closing - and alert the scheduler to prioritize patients based on needs. Accurately maintains patient schedule, and arranges alternate coverage as needed for planned and unplanned absences. Ensures proper supply inventory levels are maintained in assigned areas. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM Telework: NotEligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Occupational Therapist (Spinal Cord Injury)/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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.The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14). a. 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)). b. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). c. Education and/or Experience. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below (Note: 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.): (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. TRANSCRIPT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION d. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION 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. Preferred Experience/Qualifications: Previous experience working with people with spinal cord injuries and/or VA experience Grade Requirements: Occupational Therapist, GS-9: None beyond the basic requirements above. Occupational Therapist, GS-11: Education, Experience, Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the requirements listed above, you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (NOTE: experience must be evident in your resume in order to receive credit for experience): 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. Occupational Therapist, GS-12: Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the requirements listed above, you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs (NOTE: experience must be evident in your resume in order to receive credit for experience): 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14- Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires moderately heavy physical exertion on an intermittent basis such as assisting a Veteran in transfer activities, i.e., wheelchair to transport vehicle. There are also regular periods of standing and walking throughout the medical center and at off-station sites. Additional, at times the work requires lifting, moving, and carrying of moderately heavy items and equipment for set-up or use by Veterans during Occupational Therapy activities. Work entails: exerting 20 - 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (i.e.: more than exerting of to 20 points of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects). Occupational Therapy also requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment such as operating all aspects of a computer - voice dictation software, keyboarding, mouse, and control buttons. Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: Tempest Price
• Phone: 478-272-1210 X72383
• Email: [email protected]