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This person is assigned to the Occupational Therapy section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and provides occupational therapy services within the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL). The Mental Health OT evaluates, plans and directs the provision of OT services for Veterans enrolled within Mental Health BHIP teams at the Durham VAHCS.
05/23/2025 to 06/02/2025
$63,815 - $120,311 per year
GS 9 - 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
No
No
CBTA-12740311-25-RNL
837568800
Duties include but are not limited to:
Screening / Evaluation & Re-evaluation: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for:
- Screening/triaging of OT consults as needed.
- Accepting and responding to OT consults in compliance with PM&RS and assigned program policies.
- Evaluating complex mental health patients to determine current level of functioning using advanced evaluation methodologies, standardized or specialized tests, interviews, observations, medical record review, and consultation with other professional staff.
- Involving the Veteran and their caregivers in the evaluation process using a patient-centered approach.
- Developing, implementing and communicating the occupational therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals, current best evidence and clinical reasoning while considering the patient's capacities, occupations and the environments in which these occupations occur.
- Following defined protocols when standardized assessments are used.
- Recommending/entering additional consultations (i.e., to Physical or Recreational Therapy or prosthetic services) when the needs of the Veteran can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services.
- Evaluating medical needs for orthotic, prosthetic or other adaptive equipment in accordance with medical center policies and educating the patient & family about safe & correct use.
- Responding to inappropriate referrals in writing or verbally with written documentation of such.
- Obtaining clarification for incomplete or unclear orders from the referring provider.
- The OT may perform home or other off-site environmental assessments when appropriately justified and when training and competency in medical center policies governing home/off-site visits has been completed.
Treatment: The OT is responsible for:
- Treating Veterans presenting with complex mental health problems by using comprehensive evidence-based knowledge and experience through individual or group settings.
- Functioning autonomously in carrying out patient education, specialized treatments, and applying occupational therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with:
- Standards, scope and ethics of the practice of occupational therapy as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association and North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy.
- Polices and procedures within the VA system, DVAMC and MHSL, and
- Evidence-based best practices in mental and behavioral health recovery and rehabilitation.
- Using considerable judgment when guidelines are not available to adapt procedures and techniques to accommodate individual deficits, ranges of progress, and problems that may occur.
- Reviewing pertinent patient data using the medical record and, as needed, remote data (e.g. VistaWeb, JLV and VHIE).
- Developing, implementing and communicating the occupational therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals, current best evidence and clinical reasoning.
- Identifying general contraindications to treatment.
- Scheduling and coordinating treatment with other VA services. Treatment may take place within the home setting or Durham VA Medical Center and may be in-person or virtual, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality as appropriate.
- Providing occupational therapy treatment and caregiver training and education within the appropriate setting as indicated by the plan of care.
- Modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient
- Recommending, modifying and/or fabricating adaptive equipment, aids, or supplies as indicated. Recognizing and reporting any needed equipment repairs or unsafe conditions.
Documentation: The OT is responsible for:
- Accurately documenting OT services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by the PM&RS, the assigned home based program and the Durham VA Healthcare System.
- Entering consults within the PM&RS Service (i.e., to Physical or Recreational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with competencies, PM&RS and Durham VAHCS policies.
Performs all other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM
Telework: Ad Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Title/Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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.
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 to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12740311.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/837568800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.