Occupational Therapist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Western Colorado Health Care System is seeking a Staff Occupational Therapist in PM&R for outpatient services. The OT provides direct patient care and case management for outpatient OT patients across sites within WCHCS.

Candidates must meet education and licensure requirements, NBCOT certification, and state licensure; US citizenship required. Prior outpatient and hand therapy experience is desirable; licensure must be current.

Qualifications

• US citizenship is required for appointment.
• Candidates must possess NBCOT certification as an OT.
• Candidates must possess a full, current state license to practice OT.
• Education: OT degree from an approved program per VA standards.
• English proficiency in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care in outpatient settings within the PM&R/O.T. department.
• Effectively manage OT cases and coordinate care for outpatient clients.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to plan and implement OT treatment.

Skills

NBCOT Certification

State Licensure

Outpatient OT experience

Geriatric OT

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy

Master's Degree or higher in Occupational Therapy

Job description

The Staff Occupational Therapist, Outpatient Occupational Therapist is in the O.T. Department of the PM&R in the Western Colorado Health Care System. The Occupational Therapist provides direct patient care, and effective case management of Occupational Therapy patients in outpatient locations at the Western Colorado Health Care System. WCHCS is a level 3 complexity facility, with intermediate surgical complexity status, a Polytrauma Point of Contact site and is an Amputation Clinic Team site. 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

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 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:

• 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.

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.

Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist

• OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program [who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements,] but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT [on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c).
• Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed.
• A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
• Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Grade Determinations

Occupational Therapist, GS-09

Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignments - Individuals assigned at the GS-09 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 systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently.

Occupational Therapist, GS-11

-Education, Experience, or Licensure:

Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

OR

• Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field.

OR

• Doctorate in occupational therapy.

AND

Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
• Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
• Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

Assignment - OTs at this grade level practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. The OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (AOL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.

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.

AND

Demonstrated 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.

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 AOL, 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.

Preferred Experience:

Outpatient and inpatient experience, hand experience, driver rehab and wheelchair experience is a plus.

Reference:

https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 12.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires frequent bending and lifting, and the ability to assist patients with a variety of therapeutic activities. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to chest height and maintain good body mechanics. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.