Occupational Therapist (Spinal Cord Injury)

Summary

The Occupational Therapist (SCI) has the responsibility of planning and directing patient-specific occupational therapy programs for patients of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS). The Occupational Therapist will practice Occupational Therapy primarily at the Audie L. Murphy campus, but may participate in temporary assignments throughout STVHCS as directed by the therapy supervisor.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/28/2024 to 07/05/2024

This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

• Salary

$66,731 - $114,663 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 00

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• San Antonio, TX 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

12

• 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

CAZM-12460017-24-YM

• Control number

797676300

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This job is open to

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open only to current employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, current Federal employees AND past, current and upcoming participants of the VA Health Professions Training (HPT) Graduates. All others please apply to the external announcement: CAZM-12460016-24-CH

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• The public

Help This job is also open in another announcement to:

• The public

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Duties

Duties

may include but are not limited to:

Conducting comprehensive assessments of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools, with a particular focus on the Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Careline (SCI/D) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. Within this scope, you select and administer direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures, addressing varying levels of complexity, while aiming to enhance or restore the functionality of patients facing conditions like spinal cord injuries, amputations, and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions. Collaboration with healthcare providers is essential, involving specialized evaluations, treatment modalities, and patient education, especially regarding spinal cord injuries. Additionally, you play a vital role in evaluating patients' homes for safety and accessibility, providing recommendations for durable medical equipment (DME), and ensuring patients are trained in its safe use. Coordinating equipment needs with physicians and the prosthetics department is another critical aspect of your role. Ancillary duties include participating in offsite outings, contributing to discharge planning, independently solving complex problems, maintaining certifications, assisting in the development of care standards, and maintaining equipment and supplies.

Work Schedule: 7:30am

• 4:00pm, Monday-Friday

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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.

• 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.

• 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

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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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).

• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements when possessing a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

• 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:

Occupational Therapist, GS-9: Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond basic requirements.

Occupational Therapist, GS-11: Education, Experience, and Licensure. 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 (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.

• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.

• Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.

• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.

• Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.

• Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.

• 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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.

• Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.

• 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.

• Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).

• Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

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

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: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Straight pulling (1/2 hours), Pushing (1/2 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (1/2 hours), Standing (1/2 hours), Crawling (1/2 hours), Kneeling (1/2 hours), Repeated bending (1 hour), Climbing, legs only (1/2 hours), Climbing, use of legs and arms, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Specific visual requirement (specify) Corrective lenses okay, Both eyes required, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted), mental & emotional stability

Education

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

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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.