Summary The VISN 23 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program Occupational Therapist is a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) responsible for providing centralized, standardized, administrative and clinical eligibility reviews for authorization of purchased in home services. The IDT works in partnership with facility HCBS teams to ensure Veterans receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Responsibilities These positions may be filled by a Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, or Occupational Therapist. These positions are advertised on separate USA jobs announcements. If you are interested in the other disciplines, you will need to apply to that vacancy announcement. The HCBS IDT emphasizes Aging in Place and the 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility), encouraging restorative care over dependency. The program integrates both VA purchased and internal VA-provided home and community-based care services (HCBS). The OT's responsibilities include centralized, standardized administrative and clinical eligibility reviews for authorizing VA purchased in-home services, guiding care across VISN 23, assisting with Veteran planning assessments, identifying barriers, and ensuring smooth transitions in and out of the HCBS program. Position specific duties include, but are not limited to: Utilizes knowledge of VISN 23 HCBS and VA program to match Veteran level of functioning with appropriate internal and external services, ensuring patient safety, recovery, and continuity of care. Applies advanced occupational therapy clinical knowledge and judgment to engage in planning, decision-making, and evaluating VISN 23 HCBS program eligibility. Systematically evaluates current practices and formulates outcomes for patient groups and organizational processes within the area of expertise. Collaborates with interprofessional team members at VISN and facility levels to ensure consistent services, objective eligibility determinations and service delivery with clear documentation and communication. Works with VISN 23 HCBS IDT members to develop and implement strategies for program eligibility, service delivery, location, level of care discharge planning, appeals process, and performance improvement. Conducts comprehensive clinical reviews of patient records to identify the need for personal care services and/or the presence of supervision or protection needs daily. Documents information used in clinical eligibility determinations and eligibility assessment tools. Demonstrates leadership, experience, and innovative approaches in managing complex Veteran care. Assists with the implementation of the MISSION Act as it relates to VISN 23 HCBS program expansion. Makes initial eligibility determinations, reassessments, and appeal decisions for clinical eligibly determinations. Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities include: Advanced skill in utilizing specialized OT training and knowledge in the complex review and care planning for home and community-based services. Clinical OT specialty experience/practice: First line evaluation, provision of therapy services, and evaluation of patients with specialized conditions/treatment protocols. Serves as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within specialized content area of occupational therapy. Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needed and are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population. Maintains flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled events, Veteran/team consultation and mentoring. Maintains consistent and timely documentation of clinical work in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted program, facility, professional, and Rehabilitation Service policies and procedures. Shares knowledge and expertise about the scope of occupational therapy practice and services provided across VISN 23. This is provided through direct consultation, mentorship, development of in-services and clinical training and leading by example. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm CST Telework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-hoc basis only. Requires telework training and telework agreement. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/08/2025. Basic Requirements: (a) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. (b) Education/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. 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. (c) Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. (d) 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. Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 Grade Requirements: Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or An additional advanced degree in a related field. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Preferred Experience: Geriatrics experience, Home Healthcare experience, VA community care experience and interdisciplinary team experience is preferred. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
