Occupational Therapist - Home Based Primary Care

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.

01Basic 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements: (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. 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.

02Certification

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: 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).

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. 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).

03Grade Determinations

Occupational Therapist, GS-12: Experience - Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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.

04Preferred Experience

Geriatrics, Home Health, Interdisciplinary Team Experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-12.

05Physical Requirements

This position requires carry and/or moderate lifting 15-44 pounds, use of fingers, both hands required, walking 2 hours, operation of a motor vehicle, near vision corrected at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid permitted), and mental and emotional stability.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic and home setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

The Home Based Primary Care Occupational Therapist independently evaluates and treats Veterans referred to HBPC for Occupational Therapy services. Duties include but are not limited to: Performs comprehensive initial evaluations. Identifies functional and safety problems in the home. Establishes appropriate treatment goals. Develops, implements, and modifies appropriate treatment programs designed to meet established goals.

Evaluates patient response to treatment and modify the treatment plan to provide optimum therapeutic effect. Teaches caregivers proper techniques for assisting Veterans with functional mobility in the home (transfers, ambulation, etc.) Conducts follow-up assessments of patients admitted to HBPC as appropriate. Collaborates with the team physician for consultation with other rehabilitation services. Performs home safety assessments for structural modifications needed to make the home environment safe and accessible.

Determines the need for home medical equipment, order the equipment, justify special requests, teach the Veteran and caregivers to safely use the equipment in the home, and then monitor for safe use. Reports home medical equipment problems to the Prosthetics Department. Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the medical center and at the VISN level.

Responsible for data collection and timely reporting for the HBPC program as requested by the HBPC Program Director. Participates in HBPC quality assurance and performance improvement activities. Coordinates the efficient operation and function of the HBPC Occupational Therapy program. Ensures proper supplies are available for patient treatments. Participates in all HBPC service staff meetings and serves in a leadership role when required.

Responsible for Occupational Therapy representation in HBPC interdisciplinary team meetings. Ensures that all required documentation is completed in a timely manner, meeting departmental, External Peer Review Process (EPRP) and Joint Commission requirements. Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-01758-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized