Supervisory Occupational Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Occupational Therapist for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&RS) for the VA Maryland Health Care System. The Supervisory Occupational Therapist serves as a therapy supervisor, independently providing technical and administrative supervision for the Occupational Therapy program and staff in several programs including acute rehabilitation, sub-acute rehabilitation, long term care, hospice/palliative care in both inpatient and outpatient services.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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).
• Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• 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
• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service.
• Skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution.
• Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• At least 1 year experience in each of the following settings: Outpatient, inpatient, acute rehab.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the planning, direction, organizing, coordination, implementation, controlling and evaluation of the clinical and administrative operations of Occupational Therapy.
• Responsible for the day-to-day activity in all identified treatment areas and will reassign workload as needed to meet the daily workload demands.
• Oversee the daily scheduling of patients as well as the coordination of scheduling with other therapies and departments within the facility.
• Responsible for ensuring that all OSHA standards as well as facility safety guidelines and infection control policies are being met in the treatment areas.
• Responsible for assuring confidentiality compliance as defined in the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act.
• Represent VA/OT to the external stakeholders through lectures, education and training.
• Assures that ongoing treatment in provided in all clinical areas, which may be required by performing duties of subordinates.
• Provides orientation and training of new staff members.
• Contributes to the development and monitoring of the PM&RS quality assurance program to monitor quality of care and effectiveness of treatment.
• Contributes to the development and completion of performance evaluations for the OT staff.
• Reassessment/re-evaluation will determine need for continuation, discontinuation or referral
• Develop and coordinate educational materials for the person served and the caregiver.
• Monitor currently used assessment/treatment methods and revises said documents as necessary to reflect current methodology.
• Provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy score of practice and areas of expertise.
• Processing of durable medical needs through Prosthetics.
• Development of protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
• Has direct patient care and is involved with the planning and treatment programs for veterans with complex impairments (acute, sub-acute, chronic long term care, surgical, medical, orthopedic, neurological impairments, dementia, post acute, hospice/palliative care.
• Serves as role model for students and OT staff.
• Shows clinical knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions, and services to independently develop treatment strategies for specialty populations.
• Evaluation to include client history, role and occupational profile, motivation, occupational performance skills, patterns and factors, functional abilities, mobility, process skills and communication/interaction skills.
• Performance skills and client factors will be identified and treatment priorities and targeted outcomes identified.
• Assigning work; monitoring clinical performance; resolving staff conflicts; identifying continuing education and training needs; and preparing performance standards and ratings.
• Interview candidates for positions; recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions; administer leave; and coordinate staffing needs.
• Develop/initiate new treatment programs which integrate outcomes and advancements in practice from current research findings.
• Serves as an instructor in the facility's in-service clinical training program.
• Serves as an advocate and resource consultant to the therapy staff and facility-at-large through communication with other departments, physicians, external agencies and other groups regarding programs and operation of the occupational therapy section.
• 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.
• Responsible for comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools.
• Select and provide 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.
• Demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures.
• Provide professional, independent occupational therapy services.
• Perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager