Occupational Therapist Caregiver Support Program (CSP)

The Occupational Therapist duties include but are not limited to:

• Completes functional assessments of Veteran applicants utilizing a prescribed instrument The Veteran Functional Assessment Instrument (VFAI) and other assessment tools to determine if a Veteran applicant requires personal care services from a caregiver due to inability to perform an activity of daily living (ADL) and/or due to the need for supervision protection or instruction.
• Engages in interprofessional collaboration with: social work nursing PT OT PACT team MD PA DO NP psychologists counselors and a variety of other medical professionals.
• Completes home visits in the community to determine Veterans and caregivers needs within the home.
• Participates in direct caregiver and Veteran contacts to identify and assess caregiver stress burden and the development and application of direct clinical treatment interventions.
• Provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm
Telework: Available
Functional Statement #: (GS-9) (GS-11) 94263-A (GS-12)
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 identification 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.
• Drivers License

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • 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
  • 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
  • Masters 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations GS-9:

• Education Experience or Licensure.
  • None beyond the basic requirements.

Grade Determinations GS-11:

• Education Experience or Licensure.
  • Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OR
  • Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR
  • Doctorate in occupational therapy
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
  • Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
  • Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans including goals and methods of treatment.
  • Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
  • Skill in monitoring an individuals response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
  • Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients family members caregivers interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
  • Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
  • Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

Grade Determinations GS-12:

• 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.
• Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • 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.
  • Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
  • 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.
  • Skill in procuring fabricating adjusting adapting and modifying orthoses splints and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).
  • Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

Preferred Experience: Home Care Experience

References: VA Handbook 5005/25 Appendix G14

Physical Requirements: This position required operation of a Government-owned or -leased motor vehicle to properly carry out assigned duties. A valid state-issued driver license is required along with medical clearance by Personnel Health. The position requires travel away from the duty station to visit veterans homes Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) or other sites as appropriate to patient care or training needs. Position may require travel into the community to meet with community agencies and partners who aid help and provide support to the Caregiver Support Program its Veterans and caregivers.