The occupational therapist (OT) in this position is assigned to the Occupational Therapy section of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and matrixed to the Case Management and Social Work Service (CMSWS) Homeless Programs within the Wilmington VA Medical Center. The OT functions as the Case Manager for WVAMC's Housing and Urban Development/ VA Supportive Housing (HUD­VASH) Program.

Duties

Specific duties include: Screening / Evaluation & Re-evaluation: Screening/triaging of OT consults as needed. Accepting and responding to OT consults in compliance with PM&RS and CMSWS policies. Evaluating the Veteran's functional, physical, and / or psycho-social abilities while considering the patient's capacities, the activities, and the environments in which these activities occur. Evaluating the home environment including site visits of HUD-VASH apartments with regard to safety and accessibility issues as indicated by the plan of care and in compliance with local housing codes. Involving the Veteran and their caregivers in the evaluation process using a patient-centered approach. Coordinating care to ensure comprehensive service delivery including recommending/entering additional consultations. Evaluating medical needs for orthotic, prosthetic or other adaptive equipment in accordance with medical center policies and educating the patient & family about safe & correct use. Performing home or other off-site environmental assessments when appropriately justified and when training and competency in medical center policies governing home/off-site visits has been completed. Treatment: Reviewing pertinent patient data using the medical record and as needed, remote data (e.g. VistaWeb, JLV and VHIE). Developing, implementing and communicating the occupational therapy intervention plan for veterans in the Homeless Program. Scheduling and coordinating treatment with other VA services. Providing occupational therapy treatment and caregiver training and education within the appropriate setting as indicated by the plan of care. Functioning autonomously in carrying out patient education, specialized treatments, and applying occupational therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and AOTA documents. Modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient. Providing wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. Documentation: Accurately documenting OT services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by the PM&RS, CMSWS, the Wilmington VA Medical Center polices as well as requirements established by CARF and Joint Commission. Entering consults within the PM&RS Service (i.e., to Physical or Recreational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment. Collecting and submitting HUD-VASH Program participant data as outlined by HOMES evaluation procedures. Discharge Planning & Interdisciplinary Coordination: Identifying when patients have attained maximum benefit from occupational therapy services. Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and effectively communicating the patient's response to care, occupational therapy recommendations and appropriate follow-up patient needs. Coordinating with outside agencies, Wilmington VAMC providers and programs, and/or the Primary Care Provider as appropriate when occupational therapy services are discontinued. Supervision: Participating in the clinical education of OT and OTA students including supervision of level I and/or II fieldwork and completion of fieldwork evaluation forms. Supervising individuals who are volunteering in an official capacity through the Volunteer Service. Program Development / Quality Improvement: Participating in Occupational Therapy, PM&RS, CMSW, and Homeless program development, outcome management, strategic planning and quality improvement projects to include but not limited to peer reviews, literature reviews, committee membership, process improvement projects, and in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. Maintains comprehensive records of innovative treatment procedures for future application by other staff members; seeks improved methodology for more effective patient care; accepts suggestions for improvement of methodology. Note: Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Travel Required: 75% or less, MUST have an active Driver's license Telework: Yes, as determined by program policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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; 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. 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-toexceed 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. VA Handbook 5005/127 December 13, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G14 II-G14-4 (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment Grandfathering Provision: 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). For more information reference VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14. Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-09 Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11 (1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. (2) Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)]. In addition to the [experience or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to a broad area of the needs found in the homeless. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services in specialized areas such as homelessness, mental health, addiction, geriatrics, cognitive impairment, polytrauma, and other specialty areas. Advanced knowledge in prosthetics/orthotics devices and demonstrated ability to adjust on devices or adaptive equipment to obtain maximum benefit from the device. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Ability to provide orientation and coaching to new case managers and graduate students. Ability to serve as a field instructor for graduate students who are completing VHA field placements in the case manager's chosen professional discipline. Ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. 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 will qualify you for GS-12 level work. Specialized experience could be considered such as Individuals assigned at the GS-11 grade level who 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. (2) Preferred Experience: A minimum of 3 years of Clinical experience References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 12. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Use of fingers, both hands required, reaching above shoulder, Walking (8 hours), Standing (8 hours), Both legs required (1 prosthetic), Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (Aid permitted), and mental and emotional stability. Driving Requirement: The work is primarily community-based. Consequently, the incumbent must operate a government vehicle to visit Veterans in the community and periodically transport Veterans in the Government vehicle. Incumbent must pass all VHA requirements to operate a government vehicle prior to transporting Veterans.

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

Contacts

• Address Wilmington VA Medical Center 1601 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19805 US
• Name: Amanda Griffin-Fikes
• Phone: 614-999-2509
• Email: [email protected]