Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator)

Job description

Summary The OT's primary function is direct patient care.

Practices independently and is responsible for comprehensive assessment of Veterans' functional and occupational abilities using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools.

The Program Coordinator for Clinical Education has the additional duties of coordinating the Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Program at this complex 1B Medical Center.

The OT has expert knowledge of contemporary OT clinical education theory and practices.

Responsibilities CLINICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM The OT establishes and maintains affiliate agreements assuring all necessary occupational therapy program contracts are negotiated and properly represent the facility's OT clinical experiences offered.

The OT determines in coordination with academic institutions, the number of students that may be sent for training, areas of training covered, and assignments made (including clinical instructors (CI)).

The OT works with the Designated Education Officer (ACOS for Education) to determine budget for occupational therapy student stipends and ensure stipends are evenly distributed.

The OT oversees and facilitates specific educational experiences for 30-35 occupational therapy students and students from other disciplines who are present for clinical observations each year.

Serves as back up CI when needed.

Oversee the clinical education experience for each student.

Assists CIs with challenging students.

The OT serves as the VAAAHS liaison for curriculum for occupational therapy academic programs in the community, particularly with emphasis on local institutions.

Attends reaccreditations meetings when requested.

Attends and participates with OT clinical education groups/meetings as needed.

Serves as a role model for students, interns and others in occupational therapy staff.

Provides a minimum of one (1) in-service per year to OT staff regarding a clinical Education topic.

CLINCIAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE According to department policies, the OT is authorized to perform complex examination and treatment of Veterans at the complex 1B Medical Center.

Patient Evaluation- Demonstrates the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to provide treatment appropriate to patients despite complexity served on his/her assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge of the changes associated with the aging/disease processes to assess the patient's status to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-related, physical, psychosocial and cultural needs.

Patient Treatment- After initial evaluation of patient, formulates progressive treatment plans and goals, and is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of the treatments.

Apply advanced treatment methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairment and patients, as well as provide clinical practice guidance for other staff occupational therapists.

Monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs.

Interdisciplinary Relationships- Communicates with, consults and works cooperatively with the VAMC disciplines, to provide comprehensive patient care.

Provide guidance to staff occupational therapists within the department by applying advanced knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across various practice areas.

Patient-Family Counseling/Education- Consults with patients and their families through patient/family education, training and advising them in the nature of their disability or disease in home programs and post hospital adjustment.

Makes recommendations for home structural adaption when indicated.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 94244-0 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.

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 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 and/or Experience.

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

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.

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: GS-13 Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator) Education, Experience, and Licensure.

Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders.

(b) Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities.

(c) Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies.

(d) Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities.

(e) Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury.

(f) Ability to effectively motivate and manage a clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.] Preferred Experience: Skills and experience working with geriatric patient population; skills and experience working with acute care inpatients.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14, December 13, 2019.

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting.

Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic.

Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.

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 or 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.

Required Skill Profession

Other General