Summary This position is in the Occupational Therapy (Floater) Section of PM&RS within the VA New Jersey Health Care System. The incumbent provides coverage at multiple campuses, including East Orange and Lyons. The Occupational Therapist delivers rehabilitative services to address physical and psychosocial dysfunction, promotes wellness, and requires 25% travel. Responsibilities The Occupational Therapist (Floater) provides coverage across multiple campuses, including East Orange and Lyons. With preferred experience and coverage in acute inpatient, outpatient with upper extremity orthopedic and neurological experience, and subacute rehab, as well as telehealth. The Occupational Therapist provides rehabilitative services to people with physical impairments and psychosocial challenges that improves and/or prevents the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for performing occupational therapy assessments and treatment interventions, demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application using activity analysis, behavioral interventions, frames of reference, and therapeutic procedures. Incumbent is responsible for administering and delivering professional and independent occupational therapy services in the assigned area as prescribed or requested by the physician or other approved referring clinician. At this grade, the incumbent performs at the full performance level. The duties and responsibilities of this position may be carried out in all program areas throughout the VA New Jersey Health Care System including various clinical, administrative, and patient care areas associated with PM&RS at all campuses, as assigned by the Supervisory Occupational Therapist or their designees and dictated by workload requirements, and in the community as indicated. Some duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Provides comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles, including underlying physical deficits and psychosocial challenges, using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools across a broad range of diagnoses. Selects and provides direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity, and a wide scope of diagnoses, to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools, provides comprehensive assessment of occupational roles, environmental, functional, and safety needs in the home environment to ensure accessibility into, out of, and within the home setting through virtual modalities and home visits, as appropriate, and orders necessary and appropriate durable medical equipment, stair glides, chair lifts, ramps, HISA grants, etc. Demonstrates knowledge and skill to measure, prescribe, and educate Veterans on the use of wheelchairs, scooters, HISA grants, ramps, hospital beds, lifts, durable medical equipment (DME), assistive devices (AD), etc. Educates and trains Veterans and caregivers in fall prevention, home programs, transfer techniques, safe use of DME/AD, and in efficient care for the patient in language that is clear and understandable to those involved. Procures, fabricates, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). Uses physical agent modalities for which competency has been established by the Supervisory Occupational Therapist and/or certification has been obtained per the State of New Jersey Occupational Therapy Advisory Council Statutes. Performs other related duties as assigned including, but not limited to, Maintaining a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc. Developing safe work habits to prevent injury to patients, co-workers, and self. Monitoring physical agent modality temperatures. Administration Adheres to established standards, policies, and procedures set forth by the Section, Service, Facility, VISN and VHA. Participates in quality assurance review including chart reviews, peer reviews, patient care monitoring, and patient satisfaction surveys as directed by the Supervisory Occupational Therapist. Maintains personal productivity and assists the section in maintaining/increasing effectiveness and efficiency in meeting its objectives. Attends departmental meetings, multidisciplinary staff meetings, other meetings effecting patient care, and committee meetings as assigned. Conducts OT related in-service and clinical training. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). Performs other functions as required and/or assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 49439-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment RESUME REQUIREMENTS - Your resume MUST include the following information: Job Title (for each position) Description of duties (be as detailed as possible) Month and year start/end dates (e.g. June 2018 to April 2020) of employment Full-time or part-time status (include average hours worked per week) You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 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: 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. 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 (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. 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements education 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, GS-09 Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11 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. .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: 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. Demonstrated 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. Preferred Experience: Acute care inpatient experience, Outpatient with orthopedic experience, subacute rehab and telehealth home evaluations. 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-9 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work requires prolonged standing, bending, walking, lifting, carrying, occasional kneeling, crouching and pushing. Work requires physical effort and ability to perform repetitive motions with arms. This position requires good balance to prevent falling when assisting patients with an activity. 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 Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.
