Occupational Therapist-HUD-VASH/HJCR

Summary

This position is located in the Salt Lake City Social Work Service Homeless & Justice Clinical Recovery Program and provides Occupational Therapy services in the specialty area of Home and Community Integration and services (HUD-VASH/HJCR)within the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, A-1 facility complexity.

This therapist is able to serve as consultant to occupational therapy, HJCR, and the medical center staff in this specialty area.

Duties

• Occupational Therapist-HUDVASH/HJCR Works with an IDT team including but not limited to physicians, residents, and staff, as well as other health care specialists in matters concerning Home and Community Integration and Services (HJCR/HUD-VASH).
• Establishes treatment goals and eventual discharge plan based on evaluations, and planning with patient and significant others (when appropriate), and coordination with the multidisciplinary team.
• Develops and carries out occupational therapy plans with individuals to meet individual rehabilitation objectives.
• Implements an Home and Community Integration and Services (HUD-VASH) and/or occupational therapy treatment plan to meet individual rehabilitation objectives utilizing functional activities which have as their goal the improvement of patient’s activities of daily living, strength, range of motion, sensation, perceptive and/or cognitive process.
• Provides general assessment and treatment for veterans with physical dysfunction, neurological and orthopedic diagnoses, plan and carry out rehabilitation related to therapy, direct assistant treatment, and provide discharge planning.
• Re-evaluates patient’s performance and modifies treatment as indicated.
• Presents patient information to health care providers regarding outcomes of treatment, status and expectations.
• Evaluates patient’s living situation through home visits in-person, VVC, patient and family interviews, or consultation with other health care professionals.
• Assists patient in solving problems associated with that environment.
• Participates regularly in multidisciplinary care planning meetings including chart rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning.
• Develops, implements, and modifies the OT treatment plan effectively and independently.
• Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific adaptive equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment.
• Carries a full patient caseload, accepting new consults.
• Documents initial evaluations, progress, and discharge planning in a timely, concise manner, per section documentation and consult management requirements.
• Reports signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authority Maintains prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued.
• Completes treatment sessions according to safety procedures and Practice Act.
• Complies with hospital policies and procedures, the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) requirements, and the Joint Commission.
• 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.
• Plans and implements patient education programs and adjusts teaching method to match the patient and/or family’s learning style and cognitive level.
• Serves as mentor to Interdisciplinary team and other HUD-VASH staff.
• Maintains patient schedule and attendance.
• Accurately documents an initial evaluation including short- and long-term goals; progress reports which include description of treatment provided; discharge summary which includes summary of treatment, outcome in terms of goals set, equipment provided, and education given to patient and family.
• Assists in the development of new treatment programs, techniques, or refinements of current programs.
• Participates in Occupational Therapy, HJCR/HUD-VASH, and service staff meetings.
• Maintains safe, orderly work areas and complies with appropriate use of equipment.
• Reviews hazardous materials/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/waste management and follows Emergency Preparedness plan Follows security policies/procedures.
• Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources.
• Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e. hand washing, universal precautions/isolation procedures, including TB requirement /precautions).
• Work Schedule: M-F, 800am-4:30pm Compressed schedule: Available Telework: Ad- hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #:613820,#613830,#613840 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Professional Certification
• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans’ preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.