Occupational Therapist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fayetteville VA Medical Center seeks a Clinical Specialist in Occupational Therapy for Home Based Primary Care. The role delivers high-quality rehabilitative OT to veterans enrolled in HBPC, coordinates with VA services, and provides staff and student education on OT practices.

Qualified candidates hold NBCOT certification, a current state license, and meet VA education/experience requirements. The position emphasizes collaboration, clinical reasoning, and adapting treatments for diverse

Qualifications

• Must possess NBCOT OT certification.
• Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted state OT license.
• Education/experience combinations meet VA requirements as described.

Responsibilities

• Provide occupational therapy services to HBPC veterans.
• Coordinate care with VA services and staff.
• Educate/consult staff and students on OT practices.
• Deliver in-service training and clinical instruction.

Skills

OT knowledge

Clinical reasoning

Interdepartmental communication

Orthoses fabrication

Clinical training

Education

Bachelor's in OT + 2 yrs experience

Bachelor's in OT + 2 yrs grad edu

Master's or higher in OT

Job description

The HBPC Clinical Specialist for Occupational Therapy provides occupational therapy services to the veteran population enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Service through the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. Services include the provision of high quality and safe rehabilitative treatment, coordination of care with other pertinent VA services and clinical education/consultation regarding occupational therapy to staff and students. 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 Language 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:
  • 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. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• License: 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

GS-12 Occupational Therapist: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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

Outpatient Facility Experience

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements

There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients, providing patient transfers, some lifting of 45 pounds and over supporting patients.