The staff occupational therapist is a registered professional therapist who is primarily responsible for evaluating, planning and implementing the treatment program for referred veterans in all states of health and illness with various disabilities and medical conditions. The occupational therapist independently organizes, coordinates and implements the delivery of occupational therapy services within a specific clinical specialty area, and without guidance of a supervisory OTR.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Independently responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. 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. 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. Provides initial comprehensive evaluation of patients, periodic reevaluation, and discharge assessments. Documentation of patient assessments and treatment will be accurate and timely, and will comply with service level as well as facility-wide requirements. Communicates regularly and effectively to treatment team members regarding patient performance and status toward goal achievement. Participates as needed in patient staffing, ward rounds, patient care conferences, etc. Responsible for continued program development and improvements to utilize new techniques/technology as it applies to occupational therapy treatment. Carries out other specialty related activities as well as non-routine special assignments as requested by therapy supervisor (i.e. FIM coordinator). Communicates/coordinates with peers/associates in the health care arena in the community to provide continuity of patient care. Maintains a high level of professional competency by completion of required facility wide annual training requirements, as well as 4 completion of OT professional continuing education requirements needed for licensing and/or registration/certification. Provides clinical supervision/training to OT students when assigned. Serves as consultant/educator to facility clinical staff, either on a 1:1 basis or by formal clinical group in-services. Participates in all required staff meetings and service level administrative programs. As assigned, has the responsibility to coordinate and implement the actions needed to ensure FIM re-credentialing of individual treatment team members as well as the facility as a whole. Has responsibility to maintain the cleanliness, infection control, safety and functional use of assigned clinic. Reports problems, submits work orders, uses personal protective equipment, and complies with DVA/OSHA standards. Serves as PM&RS (Pain Management & Rehabilitation Services) representative on facility-wide committees and task forces as appointed. Committees may include but are not limited to HISA (Home Improvement and structural Alteration). EEO committees or safety committees. Supports Performance Improvement activities by identifying processes to be improved, participating in the development of monitoring indicators and evaluation criteria, collecting data, implementing process changes, monitoring outcomes and initiating corrective actions. Identifies own continuing education needs and attends continuing education programs and reads professional literature for the purpose of maintaining or improving knowledge and skills in work performance. Attends or completes required educational programs within specified timeframes. Maintains professional relations and communications with veterans, caregivers, VA and community health care professionals and the public. Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Physical requirements for this position are available for review in VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Work Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible:Optional Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91092-A 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. 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 (b)(14). B. Education [and/or Experience.] 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. 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. 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. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain [the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. G. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. 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). A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed] OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification. In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. The human resource office will notify the uncertified/unlicensed OT in writing of the requirement to obtain certification/licensure, the date by which the certification/license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified/licensed by the deadline date. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. H. 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-12 (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. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14 Preferred Experience: Seeking the best qualified occupational therapist with preferred experience in the outpatient orthopedics and neurological rehabilitation The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12. Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Northern Indiana HCS 1700 East 38th Street Marion, IN 46953 US
• Name: Kelly Pilozo
• Phone: 570-899-5433
• Email: [email protected]