This position serves as a senior evaluator for PM&RS Seating and Mobility Clinic. Performs specialized seating and mobility assessments, writes prescriptions for, and trains in the use of custom manual and electric mobility special seating systems of all levels of complexity which encompasses more than 25% of the therapists time.
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. Education/Experience: 1. 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 2. 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 3. 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. 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 this 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level that is directly related to the position being filled AND one of the following below: [(a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.] Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:] (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice[ ]. (b) [Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.] Preferred Experience: 2,000 hours of Wheelchair specific experience, Seating mobility specialty, assistive technology professional. 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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required. There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients, providing patient transfers, some lifting of 50 pounds and supporting patients.
The Occupational Therapist duties include, but are limited to the following: This position serves as a senior evaluator for PM&RS Seating and Mobility Clinic. Performs specialized seating and mobility assessments, writes prescriptions for, and trains in the use of custom manual and electric mobility special seating systems of all levels of complexity which encompasses more than 25% of the therapist's time. The wheelchair/seating specialist performs complex evaluations, requires little to no supervision, and is considered to be the department's and facility's subject matter expert on the topic. Can include telehealth/Video Connect services. Exercises independent judgment, utilizing professional practices and ethics as guidelines following the overall objectives to be achieved and priorities to be met which have been established by the Occupational Therapist Supervisor at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Western North Carolina VA Medical Center. Serves as a member of multiple interdisciplinary treatment teams representing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and provides expertise regarding specialty areas. The wheelchair/seating specialist provides direct service to referred veterans in all states of health and illness with specialization in the areas of wheelchair clinic and specialty seating. Provides general occupational therapy services, MME evaluations, and seating and positioning (scheduled and walk-in) to patient populations that may include hand rehabilitation, arthritis, spinal cord injury, stroke, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, degenerative neurological conditions, amputations, repetitive motion injury, hospice/ palliative care, long term care, as well as patients with multiple medical diagnoses. Assists PM&RS in policy and procedure developments, quality assurance monitors, and development of standards of care to ensure compliance with accrediting professional organizations. Provides on-site training occupational therapy students and other duties as assigned by Occupational Therapy Supervisor. This position requires that the therapist be proficient in providing occupational therapy care for inpatient acute medical/surgical, Primary Care, geriatric, outpatient and long-term care/Community Living Center/Rehab populations independently under the general supervision of Occupational Therapy Supervisor. This is a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week working hours and days to be determined by clinic needs. Therapist will provide cross coverage of clinical and administrative function of Occupational Therapy as per direction of Supervisor and other duties as assigned. Workload will be assigned based on the needs of the clinic to include seating and positioning and/or general occupational therapy services. Independently plans, integrates and coordinates comprehensive complex Occupational Therapy Treatment Program for a wide variety of psychosocial, neuro-musculoskeletal, upper/lower motor neuron dysfunction, pre and post-surgery joint replacement, Prosthetic check-out, ergonomics, ADL training, wheelchair and power mobility training, and functional impairments under the general supervision of OT Supervisor and periodic oversight by PM&RS Clinical Program Manager and PMRS Chief in accordance with policies and procedures of PM&RS, Joint Commission standards, VHA, CLC, RAI/MDS standards and state Occupational Therapy professional standards board Work Schedule: 7:30 to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized