Occupational Therapist

Major Duties include not are not limited to:

• Incumbent demonstrates a high degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and executing treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for mobility with the Veteran and active-duty population.
• Performs more complex and varied evaluations when evaluating and treating patients in Home Care areas that are beyond the general practice of Occupational Therapy
• Appropriately completes home accessibility and safety assessments. Makes recommendations to improve safety and accessibility as needed. Involves the patient family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication.
• Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge in the area of mobility and balance.
• Adapts and applies treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill or who have a combination of sever mental emotional or physical disabilities. Treatment will be provided in the home on the ward in the facility and in the community as appropriate for the patients needs.
• Assesses for and request prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and can make modifications as necessary.
• Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population.
• Evaluates need for medical equipment. Ensures proper ordering procedures are used.
• Assists in the scheduling of patients according to the Occupational therapy treatment plan while coordinating with the treatment plans of other disciplines within the team and facility.
• Maintains consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted O.T. practice PMRS facility and VA policies and procedures.
• For each patient assigned maintains consistent and timely documentation of encounters in patients medical record.
• Participates in regular team meetings verbal and written communication and consultation amongst team members to guide and evaluate the work of the multi-disciplinary program.
• Communicates by educating and involving patient family significant others and pertinent health care staff in the patients treatment plans disease process and goals.
• Provides basic emergency intervention to the patient to prevent further injury or infection using established VA procedures.
• Practices appropriate infection control procedures personal safety patient safety patient privacy and treatment precautions pertinent to patients condition or disease process and the location of patient encounter.
• Requests and maintains supplies in the vehicle/OT area for ongoing patient treatment.
• Actively participates in his/her own professional development maintaining an appropriate level of education as required by Missouri Division of Professional Licensure for Occupational Therapy and the AOTA. Develops and provides individualized clinical training experience for occupational therapy students.
• Completes annual mandatory reviews and other education as directed by National Headquarters VISN Medical Center Service Line and Department.
• Attends PM&R section in-services as well as hospital-wide in-services. Attends and completes mandatory in-service training as required by VA PM&R and OT policies Provides necessary guidance direction and supervision to occupational therapy students volunteers and/or CWT workers assigned to the PM&R clinic.
• Compiles and submits statistical data reports and quality assurance findings to document program effectiveness caseload and attendance.
• Assists in the maintenance of the clinic and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety policies and procedures per VA Joint Commission CARF OSHA etc. for infection control equipment etc.
• Participates in quality assurance projects and/or Quality Assurance projects and completes reports as required on patient treatment.
• Participates in quarterly Occupational Therapy peer review process.
• Participates in or coordinates program development for special programs within the Occupational Therapy department.
• Corresponds with patients and families in person over the phone through telehealth and/or through MyHealthyVet in a professional timely and courteous manner.
• Participates in Performance Improvement activities and peer review as requested.
• Maintains adequate supplies materials and equipment for anticipated treatment needs in line with budget.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm. Weekends and holiday rotations
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 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.

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.
• English 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 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. 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 Occupational Therapist.
• 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-9
(1) Education Experience or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

Occupational Therapist GS-11
(1) Education Experience or Licensure:
(a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; or
(b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or
(c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
(b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans including goals and methods of treatment.
(c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
(d) Skill in monitoring an individuals response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
(e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients family members caregivers interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
(f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
(g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

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.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (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. 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Experience: Occupational Therapy role within an inpatient rehabilitation or outpatient clinic setting. Experience working inpatient and outpatient with preferred minimum 1 year inpatient rehabilitation setting experience AND 1 year outpatient clinic setting experience. Seeking strong Occupational Therapy background in functional assessment evidence-based intervention and interdisciplinary collaboration which emphasizes patient-centered care promotes functional independence and supports continued professional growth in a dynamic clinical environment
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The employee is required to meet the following physical requirements: moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); moderate carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours per day); standing (up to 8 hours per day); repeated bending (up to 4 hours); near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable to 20/40 in one eye; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted).