Occupational Therapist

SummaryThis Occupational Therapist (OT) position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) Service - Occupational Therapy Department Section at the VA Boston Healthcare System - West Roxbury Campus.QualificationsCOVERAGE. The following are requirements for appointment as an occupational therapist (OT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These requirements apply to all OTs in the General Schedule (GS) GS-0631 series.Basic RequirementsaCitizenshipBe a citizen of the United StatesbEducation and/or Experience(1) 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 therapistNOTE: 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 therapyor (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related fieldNOTE: 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 therapyor (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 organizationsThis 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 AccreditationcCertificationCandidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification as an OTdState LicensureCandidates 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 ColumbiaeEnglish ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f)GRADE DETERMINATIONSIn addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesOccupational Therapist - GS-9 (1) Education - Experience - or LicensureNone beyond the basic requirements(2) AssignmentsIndividuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systemsThe entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independentlyOTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapistsOTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OTOccupational 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 filledor (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related fieldor (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy(2) 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 individual's 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(3) AssignmentOTs at this grade level practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized toolsThe OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation toolsOTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety - wellness - performance in activities of daily living (ADL)and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) - education - work - play - leisure - and social participationOccupational therapists require guidance with higher complexity conditionsOTs demonstrate an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis - behavioral intervention - frame of references - and therapeutic proceduresThey are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional - independent occupational therapy servicesOccupational Therapist - GS-12 (1) Education - Experience - and LicensureCompletion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled(2) 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 practiceKnowledge 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(3) AssignmentOTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation toolsOTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety - wellness - and performance in ADL - instrumental IADL - education - work - play - leisure - and social participationOTs demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis - behavioral intervention - frame of references - and therapeutic proceduresThey are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional - independent occupational therapy servicesOTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment areaIndividuals may perform ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis - where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)Preferred Experience: This position includes independently and solely managing acute level patientsRecent experience is preferred in treating adult/older adult patients in acute care to include but not limited to: orthopedics - acute rehab and acute spinal cord injury.DutiesThe incumbent functions as a staff Occupational Therapist for the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the VA Boston Healthcare SystemThis position requires a fully licensed and registered Occupational Therapist that works independently requiring minimal guidance from the Occupational Therapy SupervisorThe primary functions of this position are to perform OT examinations and evaluations - interpret findings from examinations - establish a diagnosis and prognosis within the scope of OT - and implement appropriate OT intervention plans for all patients referredThe ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a direct access environment is requiredThe incumbent actively engages patients in activities to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living or maximum function within their lifestylesThe therapist develops client centered rehabilitation objectives for individual patients - creates and implements treatment plans to restore independence - maximizes function - and improves engagement in meaningful occupationsCovering a wide range of medical diagnoses - the therapist must consider multiple complex problems that affect the patient's treatment planPatients may present with complex medical histories with multiple comorbidities and have impairments - activity/functional limitations - participation restrictions and disabilities related to those conditionsWhen providing patient care - the incumbent performs the full range of functions stated below for adult and geriatric patientsAssigned responsibilities fall primarily in the following areas: evaluation - intervention - patient and family/caregiver training and educationIncumbent exercises the highest degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for the adult and geriatric populationIncumbent exercises originality in solving problems and making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the complex and highly varying needs of patientsThe incumbent must adhere to the facility rules - policies - and procedures - as well as the American Occupational Therapy Association standards of practice and standards of ethics to ensure quality patient careWork Schedule: 7:30 a.m- 4:00 p.mEST with weekend rotation/holidays Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #s: 523-F04398 Occupational Therapist GS-0631-12 (Full Performance Level) 523-F2017 Occupational Therapist GS-0631-11 (Developmental Level) 523-F2016 Occupational Therapist GS-0631-9 (Entry Level) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Note: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit positionThis position is covered by locality-based comparability payNarrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointmentCurrent and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.