Occupational Therapist (Program Coordinator)

The Occupational Therapist and facility Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) Coordinator works under the Sioux Falls Rehabilitation and Extended Care service line guidance and SPHM program office requirements. This position covers all medical facilities and clinics within the healthcare system and maintains continuous responsibility and accountability for the SPHM program across all services and disciplines.

Qualifications:

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Licensure Requirement: Applicant must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice Occupational Therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Education Requirement:
• 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 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.
• Certification: NBCOT certification as an occupational therapist

Education and Experience Requirement:
Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

Occupational Therapists applying for this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Occupational Therapist Program Coordinator GS-13
(a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders.
(b) Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities.
(c) Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies.
(d) Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities.
(e) Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury.
(f) Ability to effectively motivate and manage a diverse clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.

References: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0631 VA HANDBOOK 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14

Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Safe Patient Handling equipment

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• The coordinator selects and coordinates the acquisition of SPHM equipment and provides expertise to all individuals and workgroups involved in patient handling.
• They establish and maintain local SPHM procedures, evaluate and direct program activities, and ensure alignment with local, regional, and national standards, including Joint Commission requirements and VHA
• The incumbent oversees SPHM orientation for new employees and ongoing staff training and competency assessments. They lead and mentor SPHM peer leaders across all shifts, ensure access to training resources, and support adequate time for equipment checks and staff training.
• As a Clinical Occupational Therapist, the incumbent demonstrates competence in current OT practice, addressing physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits. They independently apply clinical reasoning and problem-solving to adapt assessments, treatment plans, and intervention strategies.
• The incumbent selects standardized assessments as appropriate and develop individualized treatment plans with clear, measurable, functional, and Veteran-centered goals.
• The incumbent will monitor progress, document outcomes, modify interventions as needed, and educate Veterans and families on treatment benefits and risks. They discontinue services appropriately and develop comprehensive discharge plans that may include follow-up resources, adaptive equipment, environmental modifications, and community referrals.
• The incumbent collaborates effectively with Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members, and communicates clearly with both internal and external stakeholders. Documentation is completed in accordance with facility and VHA policies and standards from The Joint Commission.
• The incumbent will review occupational therapy consults for appropriateness, educate referral sources, use appropriate screening methods, and refer to other professionals when necessary. They identify environmental barriers in both facility and home settings and assist with resolving issues that interfere with service delivery.
• The incumbent maintains clinic cleanliness and equipment functionality, enforces all safety procedures, and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. They provide OT services to both inpatient and outpatient Veterans, including training in orthoses, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and physical agent modalities. They serve as a resource on occupational therapy practices, maintain state licensure, participate in continuing education, and perform other assigned duties.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday; 0730-1600
Telework: Ad-hoc only
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $417