The Housing and Urban Development VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Occupational Therapist provides direct patient care to HUD-VASH Veterans. HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. 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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Licensure. Applicants must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice Occupational Therapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Education. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements below possessing a degree from an approved program by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the education institution). A Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two years of experience as an occupational therapist. A Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two full years of graduate education in a related field A Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy Certification/Examination. Applicants must possess written documentation indicating successful completion and passing of the entry-level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Preferred Experience/Qualifications: Experience working with people experiencing homelessness is preferred. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements. GS-9 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above. Assignments. Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently. OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists. OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT. GS-11 Experience: Applicants must have completion of one year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the next lower grade at the GS-9 level directly related to the position being filled, or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or a Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy In addition to the experience above, the applicant must demonstrate the following 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. Assignment. OTs at this grade level practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. The OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Occupational therapists require guidance with higher complexity conditions. OTs demonstrate an 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. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. GS-12 Experience: Applicants must have successful completion of one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade at the GS-11 and directly related to the position being filled. In addition to the experience above, the applicant must demonstrate 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. Assignment. OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate 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. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. OTs at this level may be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). 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-09 to GS-12. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14 - Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard. ["Duties at the GS-12 level include, but are not limited to: Provides and oversees OT services in order to maximize safety and function in the home and community for the Veterans that are in the process of being housed, or currently housed, through the HUD-VASH program. Assesses and addresses the Veterans strengths and limitations related to their ability to live safely and effectively in the community and engage in meaningful activity. Evaluates, prescribes and trains in the use of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Recommends changes in the home environment and arranging the living space so it is safe and functional. Plans, develops and implements HUD-VASH clinical activities, consulting the supervisor in matters of delegation of resources, conflicting regulations or unusual or unprecedented circumstances. OT gathers information for evaluations from the medical record, interview with the Veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregivers. Develops and intervention plan in collaboration with the Veteran and any family, caregiver or other social support. Monitors veterans' vital statistics in response to therapeutic activities and identifies where there is an urgent or emergent medical condition and intervenes to provide emergency care. Records patient care activities in evaluation, assessment/reassessment, daily and discharge notes. Identifies and/or develops appropriate Veteran and significant other/caregiver educational materials. Develops and provides interdepartmental and intradepartmental in-services and ongoing training on topics of rehabilitative, mental health, homelessness or OT topics. Explains occupational therapy and rehabilitation services to patients, family and caregivers, residents, allied health professionals and other colleagues, students, volunteers, visiting public and Veterans Affairs officials. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: may be available. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
