Summary

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is seeking well-qualified candidates for a Occupational Therapist for the Community Outreach Division. The Occupational Therapist's position is to provide occupational therapy services - evaluations and interventions - to those veterans who are in the process of being housed or who are housed via the HUD-VASH program. HUD-VASH serves Veterans in Ohio - Kentucky and Indiana.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• (The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14).) 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))
• 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
• 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
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current - full - active and unrestricted license 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
• Loss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification - both current and in good standing - must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• 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)
• Occupational Therapist - 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.] Assignment
• OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools
• OTs 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 participation
• OTs 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 procedures
• They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional - independent occupational therapy services
• OTs 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 area
• Individuals 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)
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12 Preferred Experience: Mental Health Experience Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities are but not limited to: Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred for OT services within HUD-VASH in Ohio - Kentucky and Indiana
• Provides in service and clinical training programs in area of specialty as assigned by the Director - Community Outreach Division
• Designs - conducts - and evaluates education experiences for staff members - taking an active role in Journal Club - and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Community Outreach Division - Occupational Therapy Section - HUD-VASH - and Medical Center
• Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written - telephone - email - Skype - and personal communication on a regular basis at the Medical Center - CBOC - and VISN level
• Develops and provides timely reports to their respective Coordinator as appropriate
• Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans - initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care
• Represents HUD-VASH and Outreach Community Division at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the Coordinator HUD-VASH and Community Outreach Division
• Conducts comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems and establish treatment goals utilizing latest evidence based Occupational Therapy practice
• Conducts examinations - treatment planning and interventions - documentation - and follow-up evaluations primarily in the home setting but may also include any of the facilities affiliated with the Cincinnati VA Medical Center
• Performs examination - treatment planning and intervention - and documentation as needed for support personnel
• Serves as a Fieldwork Educator as assigned by the OT Clinical Educator if applicable within HUD-VASH and may serve as needed in regard to specialty area for OT Fellows per guidance from the OT Fellowship Coordinator
• Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the HUD-VASH Coordinator with ability to generate reports as requested
• Schedules appointments for assigned patients as needed including travel arrangements in coordination with Advanced Medical Support Assistants (AMSA) and per Mission Act guidelines
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the HUD-VASH Coordinator and that are consistent with the mission of the Medical Center
• Work Schedule: Full-time: Monday thru Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92724-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized