Occupational Therapist

<p>This position is in the Therapy Section of the Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders (SCI/D) Service of the VA New Jersey Health Care System. The SCI/D Occupational Therapist provides rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improves and/or prevents the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT POSITION.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Provides comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. Selects and provides 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. Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application using activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures. Procures, fabricates, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment and wheelchairs). Uses physical agent modalities for which competency has been established by the SCI/D Program Manager or Service Chief or designee and/or certification has been obtained per the State of New Jersey Occupational Therapy Advisory Council Statutes. Documents in the medical record: results of the initial evaluation; the treatment plan and goals; progress reports that include the treatment provided, changes in the patient's functional status, and changes made to the treatment plan; a discharge summary that includes goal achievement, recommendations for home program, and patient/family education. When indicated, evaluates the patient's living environment through home visits or consultation with patient, family, significant others or home health professionals to assist in solving problems associated with community re-entry. Administration Adheres to established standards, policies, and procedures set forth by the Section, Service, Facility, VISN and VHA. Participates in quality assurance review including chart reviews, peer reviews, patient care monitoring, and patient satisfaction surveys as directed by the SCI/D Program Manager or Service Chief or designee. Maintains personal productivity and assists the section in maintaining/increasing effectiveness and efficiency in meeting its objectives. Attends departmental meetings, multidisciplinary staff meetings, other meetings effecting patient care, and committee meetings as assigned. Conducts OT related in-service and clinical training. Work Schedule: Intermittent, days and hours to be determined by the needs of the service. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>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/.