Summary The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist. The Occupational Therapist will function within Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program provides comprehensive interdisciplinary care to veterans with complex medical and psychosocial conditions within the home care setting. HBPC therapist complete evaluations to determine the patient's function and safety in their home and community. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Establishes and maintains contact with the other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Cleveland VA Medical Center Assists in the development, planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to HBPC as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the Cleveland VA Medical Center. Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the HBPC therapy supervisor geriatric patients and refer to other medical professionals as medically indicated. Exercises highly skilled autonomous professional judgement to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge. Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers. Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers. Modifies the treatment plan when either the established goals or timeframes for achievement of those goals has been attained. Appropriately records encounters. Enters consults to Prosthetics department in accordance with HBPC service, national VA, and medical center policies. Maintains professional licensure and completes all required annual continuing education for license renewal. Educates other facility personnel in the scope of HBPC services and programs involving a variety of health care specialties. Functions autonomously in carrying outpatient education, specialized treatments, and applying occupational therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and PTA documents Assists in the establishment of clinical and practice guidelines impacting all patients participating in HBPC therapy programs Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Mondays-Fridays Telework: Available Functional Statement #: 93731A, 93732A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 identification 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 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. Licensure: current, full, active and unrestricted licenses to practice Occupational Therapy in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Occupational Therapists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Certification. Current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist. Education and or Experience: Applicants 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 American Occupational Therapy Association (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. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of] a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or predecessor organizations. ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Valid State Driver's License Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program [who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements,] but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state [licensure], may be [appointed, pending certification and/or licensure,] as a graduate OT [on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade GS-11: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OR Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; OR Doctorate in occupational therapy. In addition to the experience and education above, you 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. GS-12 Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. In addition to the experience and education above, you 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: Two years of successful therapy practice in the field of home health care or four years of inpatient medical experience Excellent interpersonal relationship skills Ability to work on an interdisciplinary setting. Ability to work independently and to make competent clinical decisions using critical thinking skills. Sound documentation, patient assessment skills, and interdisciplinary care planning Ability to be independent in the community. Ability to prioritize responsibilities. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14 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: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required. This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve but not limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the occupational therapy clinic or at the patient's bedside. This position will also involve sedentary work involving computers and communications. Incumbent physical demands of this position involve active listening, observing, evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, writing reports, writing policies and procedures along with writing clinical notes. OT in HUD VASH will also utilize office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopy machines and transport veterans in the GSA at times. 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.
