Occupational Therapist

Clinical

• Treats patients presenting complex problems using knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidenced based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical occupational cognitive and psychosocial functional deficits.
• Consults with physicians and makes recommendations for plan of treatment.
• Evaluates referred patients to determine current level of functioning (e.g. range of motion pain strength movement mechanics posture coordination perception coordination self-care homemaking work performance orthotic needs) using standardized or specialized tests interviews observations medical record review and consultation with other professional staff. Provides information to physicians for use in differential diagnosis.
• Develops rehabilitation objectives in collaboration with the patient in the form of a treatment intervention plan that includes short and long term goals. Interventions to attain goals include but are not limited to: therapeutic exercise muscle re-education perceptual motor integration fabrication and applications of orthotics and devices for daily living instruction in compensatory techniques and provision of patient/family education.
• Must 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 the veteran.
• Re-evaluates the patients status on a regular basis and adjusts the treatment plan appropriately.
• Documents in the medical record: results of the initial evaluation; the treatment plan and goals; progress reports that include the treatment provided changes in the patients functional status and changes made to the treatment plan; a discharge summary that includes goal achievement recommendations for home program and patient/family education.
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participates with physicians nurses psychologists social workers and other disciplines in developing the patient care plan; advises the interdisciplinary team of treatment outcomes current status of the patient and progress toward goals.
• When indicated evaluates the patients living environment through home visits or consultation with patient family significant others or home health professionals to assist in solving problems associated with community re entry.
• Procures fabricates adjusts adapts and modifies orthoses splints and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
• Applies all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance.

• Provides orientation/training of medical staff to the occupational therapy program.
• Assists in the orientation and training of new staff occupational therapists.
• Assists in the training of occupational therapy students providing feedback about students progress and performance.
• Keeps current of principles and techniques in the occupational therapy assessment and treatment of occupational cognitive and psychological functional deficits through professional literature in-service programs and continuing education.
• Provides in-service and patient education programs as indicated.

Administrative

• Participates in developing guidelines/protocols in treatment of various diagnoses and in developing new patient care programs and evaluation of existing programs.
• Maintains patient records and other data required by the section service and medical center.
• Submits requests for expendable supplies additional equipment educational material and maintenance needs to the section supervisor.
• May be requested to serve on a service level committee or to represent PM&R Service on a medical center committee.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information refer to Required Documents below.

Work Schedule: Full Time 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.

Basic Education/Experience
The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:

(a) Bachelors 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) Bachelors 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) Masters 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.

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.

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.
(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.

Preferred Experience: Experience providing therapy services within a home health care environment.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The incumbents duties require occasional standing walking and sitting. The position involves occasional lifting carrying pushing and pulling of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. The incumbent may occasionally stoop or crouch. Frequent handling and fingering are required along with frequent talking and hearing. The position requires frequent near visual acuity depth perception and accommodation with occasional color vision and field of vision. Occasional operation of a motor vehicle is required.