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Summary This position is located within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at Mather, CA. The Occupational Therapist restores function, prevents disability, increases independence, optimizes safety, and promotes successful community discharge for veterans being admitted to the hospital for surgical, medical or neurological conditions. The assignment is primarily in the inpatient setting and other areas of care at the discretion of the OT Section Chief. Responsibilities Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Clinical Evaluations: Evaluations take place primarily in the inpatient setting at the bedside and in the OT Clinic and may also take place in the CLC and outpatient settings. The OT conducts an evaluation that gathers information from the medical record, interview of the veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregiver or other providers, observation, and standardized and non-standardized testing and analyzes the demands of the occupation. Intervention: The OT develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and family, caregiver and social support as appropriate. The plan considers the goals of other team members. It considers the veteran's context and activity demands. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes. The intervention is an accepted occupational therapy approach based on theory and evidence. Intervention approaches may include: health promotion, skill remediation or restoration, performance maintenance, modifications of task or environment, and disability prevention. Maximization of Outcomes: The OT maximizes patient outcomes by Reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular intervals; Modifying the treatment plan and goals as needed to support veteran outcomes; Recommending appropriate discharge from OT, based on response to treatment, collaboration with others and the veteran's ongoing needs; Making referrals to other services as appropriate; and Improving OT clinical programs through contributions to program development and ongoing program evaluation and refinements. Health and Safety: The OT optimizes health and safety of self, patients, colleagues, and visitors by Practicing proper infection control procedures in all patient care and clinical activities; Using all clinical equipment and supplies in the prescribed and safe manner; and Following all proper procedures for urgent and emergent disasters and other occurrences. Clinical Information: The OT optimizes interdisciplinary care planning by Recording patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, Rehab, and OT regulations; Participating in formal and informal methods of communication about patient status, such as via secure email, and Participating in multidisciplinary meetings to collaborate on plans of care and discharge planning. Administrative The OT supports the veterans, the OT Section, the Rehab Service, the SFVAHCS facility and the Agency by Maintaining all required records, including: encounter entry, consult completion, and others as requested; Submitting Prosthetic Consults in a timely manner and according to proper protocol; Monitoring clinic supply inventory and ensures adequate supply levels according to Rehabilitation Service protocol; Maintaining a safe and orderly clinic environment; and Participating in developing Quality Improvement (QI) indicators, conducts QI audits and shares responsibility for QI minutes when requested. Educational Develops and conducts OT section, interdepartmental and intradepartmental in-services and ongoing training on topics of rehabilitative and OT care; Provides supervision of OT interns and volunteers when assigned by supervisor; Contributes ideas to improve the OT intern training program; Attends and participates in relevant and required Rehab, OT, Inpatient, and Medical Center offerings, and professional conferences and workshops; and Represents OT and Rehabilitation Services to patients, residents, allied health professionals, students, volunteers, visiting public, vendors and Veterans Affairs officials. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday to Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm (To be determined upon selection.) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 08180-F, 08181-F, 08182-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 3. 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 American Occupational Therapy Association (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 *Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted 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. 4. Certification: Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy NBCOT certification as an OT. 5. 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. *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. Grandfathering Provision: 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist GS-9 Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Education, Experience, or 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 Doctorate in occupational therapy Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the [experience or education above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of 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. 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 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. 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. 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/. **Physical Requirements: A. Strength: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength per 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. (i.e.: more than exerting of 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: 1. Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Walking outdoor distances of approximately one block, ascending and descending stairs. 2. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts and binders. 3. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling: 1 - 10 pounds constantly, 10 - 25 frequently, and 20 - 50 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include: a. Picking up, carrying and placing folders, charts, books and binders. b. Setting up equipment for veterans such as weights or durable medical equipment. c. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. d. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and supply carts. e. Assisting veterans in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers, which may be up to 50 pounds. f. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of veterans' extremities in all planes of motion. 4. Occasional driving of power mobility devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters and performing manual wheelchair navigation to demonstrate and teach veteran users in same. B. Dexterity: Occupational Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with examples as follows: 1. Operating all aspects of a computer - keyboarding, mouse and control buttons. 2. Demonstrating the use of all aspects of DME for veteran teaching. 3. Assembling and adjusting equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers, allen wrench, and pliers. 4. Fabricating splints or adaptive equipment requiring the use of exacto knife, scissors and thermoplastic molding skills. C. Organizational Skills and Tools 1. Has a working knowledge of tools such as Microsoft Teams, Word, and Outlook. 2. After basic orientation, has functional knowledge of the electronic health record system. 3. Independently organizes and balances responsibilities so redundancy is minimized, efficiency is optimized and all assigned tasks are completed. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.