Summary

This position is located at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in the the Rehabilitation Medicine Service. This position is at the full performance level for the Occupational Therapist (OT). The incumbent meets all regulatory and statutory requirements including state licensure following successful completion of an accredited college or university accredited by American Occupational Therapy Association.

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
• 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: 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 - 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 - Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of 12/13/2019 qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration [that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation]
• Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard - must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• 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: (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
• Preferred Experience: Active License and Registration in Occupational Therapy Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ 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-12 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties may include - but are not limited to: Evaluates and trains patients on selfcare activities (e.g. - dressing - eating - bathing - toileting - and personal hygiene) to maximize independence
• Teaches the patient orthoses or adaptive equipment - which may be fabricated by the therapist when necessary
• Measures - fits - and instruct patients for the use of complex adaptive and assistive devices
• Develops or modifies the evaluation process to positively effect patient care
• Provides training in home management skills - presenting simpler modified methods to minimize fatigue and conserve energy
• Aids in maintaining and improving joint range of motion - muscle strength - endurance - coordination - and dexterity - particularly in the upper extremities
• Develops appropriate treatment planes and patient goals
• Evaluates and trains the patient in weakened areas to compensate for sensory - perceptual - and cognitive deficits as they relate to function
• Provides leadership and effectively coordinates patient care issues with other health care providers
• Actively participates in treatment planning as a member of the treatment team
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00 pm - Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position .Functional Statement #: 62102F - 62103F - 61358F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 child
• Child 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 $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized