Occupational Therapist (Community Living Center)
The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out throughout the VA New Jersey Health Care System including various clinical, administrative, and patient care areas associated with PM&RS at all campuses, as assigned and dictated by workload requirements, and in the community for home evaluations as indicated. The Occupational Therapist primarily provides services in the Community Living Center and all Extended Care areas including acute rehab, subacute rehab, long term care, palliative care, hospice, and mental health. If needed, they also provide services in all outpatient areas. At a minimum, they provide services under a general scope of practice and must have documented training, certification, and/or equivalent clinical experience in the area of specialized procedures for which these practices are sought and demonstrated competence to perform the functions of the requested specialized patient care procedures 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. Graduation from a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational therapy Education (ACOTE) or predecessor organizations to include an internship (supervised field work experience required by the educational institution). The ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Foreign Education. Foreign graduates of occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license/certification/registration/trademark. Possession of written documentation that the individual has passed the entry-level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). License/Registration/Certification. The OT must hold a full, current and unrestricted state license, registration or certification as required by state statute. Certification/Examination. Possession of written documentation that the individual has passed the entry level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Grade Determinations:
For GS-9:
Experience:
At 1 year of post-graduate progressively responsible experience equivalent to the next lower grade level OR Education:
Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field related to the practice of occupational therapy OR Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy OR a closely related field accredited by ACOTE. For GS-11:
Education and Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled OR Education:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field. Demonstrated KSAOs. In addition to the basic requirements, individuals assigned as GS-11 OTs must demonstrate all of the following KSAOs:
- Knowledge of advanced occupational therapy techniques to perform functions associated within the occupational therapy scope of practice. - Ability to communicate orally and in writing. - Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in depth specific assessment of function and utilization of non-standard methods and techniques. - Knowledge of principles and techniques in the occupational therapy assessment and treatment of occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits. - Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care providers. - Ability to facilitate and instruct in-service and clinical training programs. - Knowledge and ability to apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance. References:
See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14 dated March 28, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11. Physical Requirements:
Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires medium strength according to the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails:
exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (more than exerting of up to 20 points of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.) Examples of the medium strength required by Occupational Therapists are as follows:
Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts and binders. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling:
1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 frequently, and 20-50 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include:
picking up, carrying and placing folders, charts, books and binders. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and supply carts. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers, which may be up to 50 pounds. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of patients' extremities in all planes of motion.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
United States Citizenship:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Graduation from a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational therapy Education (ACOTE) or predecessor organizations to include an internship (supervised field work experience required by the educational institution). The ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Foreign Education. Foreign graduates of occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license/certification/registration/trademark. Possession of written documentation that the individual has passed the entry-level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). License/Registration/Certification. The OT must hold a full, current and unrestricted state license, registration or certification as required by state statute. Certification/Examination. Possession of written documentation that the individual has passed the entry level certification examination for OTs which is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Grade Determinations:
For GS-9:
Experience:
At 1 year of post-graduate progressively responsible experience equivalent to the next lower grade level OR Education:
Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field related to the practice of occupational therapy OR Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy OR a closely related field accredited by ACOTE. For GS-11:
Education and Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled OR Education:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field. Demonstrated KSAOs. In addition to the basic requirements, individuals assigned as GS-11 OTs must demonstrate all of the following KSAOs:
- Knowledge of advanced occupational therapy techniques to perform functions associated within the occupational therapy scope of practice. - Ability to communicate orally and in writing. - Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in depth specific assessment of function and utilization of non-standard methods and techniques. - Knowledge of principles and techniques in the occupational therapy assessment and treatment of occupational, cognitive, and psychological functional deficits. - Ability to interact with patients, families, and other health care providers. - Ability to facilitate and instruct in-service and clinical training programs. - Knowledge and ability to apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and environmental maintenance. References:
See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14 dated March 28, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11. Physical Requirements:
Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires medium strength according to the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails:
exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (more than exerting of up to 20 points of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.) Examples of the medium strength required by Occupational Therapists are as follows:
Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts and binders. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling:
1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 frequently, and 20-50 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include:
picking up, carrying and placing folders, charts, books and binders. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and supply carts. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers, which may be up to 50 pounds. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of patients' extremities in all planes of motion.
- Department:
0631 Occupational Therapist - Salary Range:
$48,375 to $93,077 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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