Occupational Therapist - Inpatient Neuro-Rehab at Minneapolis

JOB SUMMARY:

 Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 923046

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.  

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities.  For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

Note:  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.  The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 7 to 11.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.  The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass pre-employment examination
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

This part time (Monday - Friday, 64 hours every 2 weeks) position is located in a large Occupational Therapy Department at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center (MVAMC). MVAMC is a Level 1 facility with comprehensive specialty programs including a National Polytrauma Center, a Spinal Cord and other Neurological Disorders Center, and a Regional Amputation Center. This position is assigned to inpatient rehabilitation, and functions on an interdisciplinary team.

 

The position is a clinical position with direct patient care focused on maximizing the ability to function in activities of daily living. The caseload includes both men and women with widely varying diagnosis, stage of recovery, cultural backgrounds and level of education. The majority of patients are male adults with multiple, complex and interacting medical, physical, psychiatric and social problems. Most have a Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) or other Neuro diagnosis that impacts cognitive performance, behavior and psychological functions associated with brain damage (i.e., PTSD, mood disorders, impaired memory). The work takes place both within the Medical Center and in the community.

 

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• evaluating the patient, developing a treatment plan, selecting and implementing appropriate treatment modalities, monitoring progress and communicating response to treatment
• collaborates with team members to promote an integrated treatment plan.
• Implements a wide range of occupational therapy treatments including specialized modalities or methods of treatment for addressing cognitive, physical, emotional and behavioral problems as they impact activities of daily living.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

• U.S. citizenship.  Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 
• Education.  Graduation from a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or predecessor organizations to include an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution).   The ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).   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.
• Certification/Examination.  Possession of written documentation that the individual has passed the entry-level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• State Licensure/Certification/Registration/Trademark (hereafter referred as state regulatory requirement).  The OT must hold a full, current, and unrestricted state license, certification, or registration or trademark to practice occupational therapy in a State, Territory, a Commonwealth of the United States (i.e.,   Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency.  OTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook Part II, chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.
• Physical Requirements.  See requirements section below

 

Preferred Experience: Licensed Occupational Therapists

 

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates

  GS-7 Staff Occupational Therapist

  Experience or Education.  None beyond the basic requirements.  Candidates at this level may have a baccalaureate degree from an approved program prior to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) January 1, 2005, decision as shown in the note in paragraph 2.

  GS-9 Staff Occupational Therapist

  Experience or Education.  In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidate must have:

  1.  At least 1 year of post-graduate progressively responsible experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or

  2.  Education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field related to the practice of occupational therapy; or

  3.  Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy or a closely related field accredited by ACOTE.

  Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs).  In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAOs:

  1.  Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.

  2.  Ability to administer and interpret occupational therapy assessment and evaluation tools.

  3.  Ability to interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods to achieve stated goals.

  4.  Ability to implement the intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.

  5.  Skill to monitor the individual’s response to interventions and modify treatment plan and reevaluates as indicated.

  6.  Skill and ability to communicate and or collaborate with the patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals or other individuals verbally and in writing.

  7.  Knowledge and ability to apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance.

  8.  Knowledge and ability to comply with all applicable regulations governing documentation, medical records, reimbursement and workload statistics in accordance with established professional practice and VHA.

  GS-11 Occupational Therapist

  Education and Experience.  In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the next lower grade directly related to the position being filled, or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field.

  Demonstrated KSAOs.  In addition to the basic requirements, individuals assigned as GS-11 OTs must demonstrate all of the following KSAOs:

  1.  Knowledge of advanced occupational therapy techniques to perform functions associated within the occupational therapy scope of practice.

  2.  Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

  3.  Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in depth specific assessment of function and utilization of non-standard methods and techniques.

  4.  Knowledge of principles and techniques in the occupational therapy assessment and treatment of occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits.

  5.  Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care providers.

  6.  Ability to facilitate and instruct in-service and clinical training programs.

  7.  Knowledge and ability to apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance.

References:

VA Handbook 5005/25, Part II, Appendix G14, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD , dated February 2009.

PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Physical Requirements: Light lifing and carrying (under 15 lbs.); use of fingers; both hands required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; ability to distinguish shades of colors; and hearing (aid permitted).

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Country: USA, State: Minnesota, City: Minneapolis, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.