Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/26/2024 to 07/08/2024

• Salary

$103,409 - $134,435 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Columbia, SC 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0631 Occupational Therapist

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTB-12458142-24-GK

• Control number

797481100

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to permanent employees of the Columbia VA Healthcare Center.

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Duties

Major duties may include, but are not limited to:

Clinical Duties (70%):

1. Incumbent completes evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. Consults are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care, and coordination of schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation.

adapted because of multiple physical and emotional disabilities or present conditions.

2. Incumbent utilizes evaluation data to plan and implement comprehensive patient treatment programs, immediately involving the patient in goal setting and treatment processes as feasible. Incumbent modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short and long-term occupational therapy goals.

3. Incumbent communicates readily with the multidisciplinary team, advising the ream of the patient's needs and progress, exchanging discharge planning information with them. This communication occurs through team meetings, written reports, and informal communication, such as personal and telephone conversations. Written communication is accomplished in a timely fashion.

4. Incumbent functions as a mentor and provides specific instruction as well as training to students and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Incumbent also provides instruction to patient and family in these areas as appropriate to their roles and level of understanding.

5. Incumbent works with a high degree of independence, exercising independent professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives. Incumbent exercises originality in solving problems not covered by these guides, making adaptations, and modifications of treatment plans and procedures without supervisory guidance, to meet the complex and highly varying needs of the patient, and advises all other hear care team members and students in this regard for patients with complex conditions.

6. Incumbent develops and coordinates treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, student clinical education/residency programming, and polytrauma/traumatic brain injury.

7. Incumbent will have an active relationship with the hospitalists, mid-levels, and nursing staff which may include open communication via phone and/or participation in clinic and case discussions as appropriate.

Referral Coordinator (25%):

1. Incumbent will serve as a consultant to the facility rehabilitation team regarding community care GEC processes to include but not limited to using the appropriate facility templates for extension of services, procurement of medically necessary DME, and placing consults to the appropriate service lines to prevent delay in care.

2. Incumbent will actively participate in program development and/or process improvements relevant to the referral program to improve efficiency and quality of care provided to patient.

3. Incumbent will serve as a point of contact providing guidance to PM&R and facility leadership on matters related to Inpatient/GEC Community Care referrals.

4. Incumbent will independently review GEC community care consults and answer them in a timely manner. They will complete a thorough chart review in CPRS as well as review outside facility notes to determine if a patient would benefit from initiation or extension of OT services.

5. Incumbent contributes to learning opportunities at the local level via conference planning, presentations at conferences, knowledge sharing, and consultation.

Administrative Duties (5%):

1. Incumbent maintains accurate records, attendance, progress, and final disposition and submits necessary monthly and quarterly information in a timely and accurate manner.

2. Incumbent is responsible for the care, upkeep, and sanitation of equipment used and may perform the regular duties of a higher-level therapist in their absence.

3. Incumbent monitors program operations for quality issues considering access to care, cost effective operations and a safe and healthy environment to promote maximum patient and staff welfare.

Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday | 7:00am

• 3:30pm

Telework: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: FS 544-55094F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Terry Stevenson at Terry.Stevenson@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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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.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• 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).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14).

a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a))

b. Education and 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.

Foreign Graduates. Graduates] of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.

(d) Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.

(e) 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13: Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator)

(1) 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.

(2) 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 diverse clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.

Preferred Experience: Review of Community Care GEC Occupational Therapy Request

References: 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 will be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.