Occupational Therapist-Home Based Primary Care

Occupational Therapist-Home Based Primary Care

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Aurora, Colorado

Salary Range: $98811 - $128460 Per Year

Job Summary: The Eastern Colorado Health Care System-Home Based Primary Care is recruiting for one Occupational Therapist to work within the Home Based Primary Care team. This Occupational Therapist will work primarily out of Veterans homes and be an integral team member to the Primary Care team.

Major Duties:

• Independently evaluates patients referred for Occupational Therapy, using standard and non-standard methods to assess range of motion, strength, sensation, proprioception, coordination, perception, cognition, ADL and work activities, orthotic and prosthetic needs, and need for adaptive equipment. Establishes treatment goals and eventual discharge plan. Develops and carries out occupational therapy plans with individuals to meet individual rehabilitation objectives. Re-evaluates patient's performance and modifies treatment as indicated. Evaluates patient's living situation through home visits, patient and family interview, or consultation with other health care professionals. Assists patient in solving problems associated with that environment. Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific adaptive equipment. Documents initial evaluations, progress, and discharge planning in a timely, concise manner, per section documentation and consult management requirements. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authority. Provides documentation with guidance from reporting officials or supervisor. Manages daily workload and schedule. Completes daily, weekly, and monthly statistics as required by the service. Accurately documents for the medical record. Assists in the development of new treatment programs, techniques, or refinements of current programs as directed by the Occupational Therapy Supervisor. Assists Service Chief and/or Supervisor, Occupational Therapy/PMRS in updating and maintaining Occupational Therapy policies and procedures. Participates in multidisciplinary meetings including chart rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning, as directed. Participates in Occupational Therapy and RMS staff meetings. Presents in-services as needed or directed. Designs and /or participates in quality assurance activities as directed and has a working knowledge of departmental performance improvement projects. Is aware of supply inventory and submits requests to the supervisor. Shares in the maintenance of equipment and is aware of safety. Participates in CARF and Joint Commission activities to ensure compliance and accreditation. Maintains current NBCOT and certifications, license requirements, and mandatory training as required by the facility. Assists in the orientation of physicians, medical resident, and other allied health personnel to the Occupational Therapy program. Works with other providers and/or ward staff in teaching positioning, application of orthoses and slings, and proper use of self-help devices. Instructs patient and family members in the proper and safe use adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment and prepares timely prosthetics requests. Attends continuing education courses for occupational therapists and related health care personnel to increase knowledge and skill, learn new treatment techniques, and explore new theories. Shares that knowledge with the OT staff. Plans and implements patient education programs and adjusts teaching method to match the patient and/or family's learning style and cognitive level. Attends and maintains mandatory training classes and incorporates principles learned to correct deficiencies and maintain safety. May supervise occupational therapy students. Provides supervision in the area of patient evaluation, treatment planning, treatment implementation and oral and written reporting. Promotes student's professional growth and creative thinking. Rates and mentors student using the Fieldwork Evaluation Form (provided by AOTA.) Receives guidance from the OT supervisor as needed. Serves as mentor to new occupational therapy staff, if necessary. Work Schedule: M-F between some configuration of hours between 7 and 4. Telework: Available Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55668-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education and/or Experience. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the 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 (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; or 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. (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. (2) 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 Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. 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. (1) 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. (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. (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements (4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification. In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, GS9- Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS11- Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled or (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field or (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Occupational Therapist, GS12 (1) 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. (2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. (c) 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. (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment. (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in home based primary care of home health settings References: VA Handbook 5005/127, PART II, APPENDIX G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 12. Physical Requirements: Work assignment involves exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force. Requires regular & recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing, bending, walking and periods of assisting patients with transfers

How to Apply: 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 11/24/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12832751. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-24