The primary function of the Occupational Therapist is to provide direct patient care. This position is located at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical center in Clarksburg, WV. The Occupational Therapist will independently develop and implement an Occupational Therapy Treatment program utilizing judgment to modify the treatment as a result of changing medical conditions or because of a variety of severe physical and mental disabilities.

Qualifications:

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:

The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; OR (b) 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 (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. 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. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed.

Grade Determinations :

Occupational Therapist GS 11 Qualification requirements: Education, Experience, or Licensure (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OR (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following

KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Occupational Therapist GS 12 Qualification requirements: Education, Experience, and Licensure . (1) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. AND (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements:

Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work may require good physical health, normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity.