Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides primary, mental health and specialty care across a variety of settings. The Community Integration Services (CIS) OT provides OT services to Veterans enrolled in the program and may include working with Veterans with major mental health diagnosis, cognitive impairment, active substance abuse, and/or physical disabilities limiting independence in self-care and living skills.
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. 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. 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 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). [No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English]. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. 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). Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed. A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed] OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. 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. Occupational Therapist, GS-9 Education, Experience, or Licensure Requirements: None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11Education, Experience, or Licensure Requirements: 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 or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Occupational Therapist, GS-11 KSAs Requirement: 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 Requirement: 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. In addition to the [experience or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Occupational Therapist, GS-12 KSA's Requirement: 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. Preferred Experience: Prefer experience with homeless population. Prefer case management experience. Prefer experience with aging population. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Duties include but limited to: CIS OT Functions as part of a multidisciplinary Team to help chronically homeless Veterans to obtain and maintain stable housing. Incumbent provides independent occupational therapy techniques associated within the occupational therapy scope of practice. Staff OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for performing occupational therapy assessment and treatment interventions. Staff OT demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures. Provides direct patient care as assigned, delivering Occupational Therapy services according to program requirements, with the goal to maximize the Veteran's function and independence. Screens patients for Occupational Therapy services for appropriateness, types of services and rehabilitation potential. Independently develops and implements Occupational Therapy treatment using judgment to modify the treatment as a result of changing medical conditions. Evaluates a wide range of patients with complex disabilities to determine level of function using standardized and non-standardized tests. Assists multidisciplinary medical team in coordination of patient's treatment and discharge planning. Considers the age of the patients in designing treatment plans. Communicates with patients, families, treatment team members, and other Medical Center personnel and associates in the community to provide comprehensive services. Utilizes aides, students, and volunteers to implement Occupational Therapy services. Maintain appropriate program documentation required by the service/section/program assignment. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No