This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Incumbent plans and carries out the full range of treatment using the skills and techniques for the neurological patient population who have varying degrees of complex occupational problems. The individual serves as the subject matter expert for occupational therapy for patients with neuromuscular conditions and TBI. The incumbent has the ability to use professional knowledge effectively and must possess initiative, tact, resourcefulness, and good judgement in exercising authority. Incumbent will demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge and certification in lymphedema therapy (CLT) and the demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide clinical guidance to staff OTS within the department. Incumbent will develop protocols and procedures for lymphedema rehabilitation based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research and practice. Incumbent will possess ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups regarding occupational therapy scope of practice in Lymphedema rehabilitation. Incumbent will screen potential clients as needed and evaluate referred patients to determine current level of functioning using standardized or specialized tests interviews, observations, medical record review, and consultation with other professional staff. Incumbent will develop, implement and communicate the occupational therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals, current best evidence and clinical reasoning while considering the patient's capacities, the activities, and the environments in which these activities occur. Incumbent with re-evaluate patients on a regular basis and adjust treatment plan appropriately. Incumbent will follow defined protocols when standardized assessments are used. Recommending additional consultations or resources when the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise of other professional or services. Incumbent will evaluate needs for adaptive equipment in accordance with medical center policies and education the patient & family about safe & correct use. Incumbent will modify the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient. Incumbent will recommend, modify and /or fabricate adaptive equipment, aids or supplies as indicated. Recognized and reported any needed equipment repairs or unsafe conditions. Incumbent functions as a mentor in the area of complicated medical conditions and provides specific instruction and training to patient and family in these areas as appropriate to their roles and level of understanding. Incumbent exercises the highest degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for this population. Incumbent exercises originality in solving problems not covered by these guides, making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the complex and highly varying needs or patients, and advises all other health care team members and students in this regard for patients with orthopedic conditions Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: #544-55768 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14). 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: (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. 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. 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-to- exceed 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. (2) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (4) 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. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 (1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled [and one of the following]: (a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. (b) [Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Assignment. Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research. Preferred Experience: Experience with lymphedema evaluations & management. Certification in lymphedema management; must be a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See 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 Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Chanque Mason
• Phone: 919-316-0969
• Email: [email protected]