Summary This position serves as an Occupational Therapist within the Behavioral Health Inpatient Care Unit (BHICU), under the Mental Health Product Line (MHPL) at VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). The GS-13 OT Mental Health Clinical Specialist is a subject-matter expert and consultant on Mental Health (MH) Occupational Therapy for the MHPL and other medical center staff. Responsibilities The Occupational Therapist - Mental Health Clinical Specialist evaluates, plans, and directs the OT Mental Health program in the assigned area to ensure proper coordination of care within the local facility inclusive of regional/national stakeholders and the Office of Academic Affiliation. This includes developing programming, leading quality assurance initiatives for the OT program in the assigned area and managing administrative aspects of care with a high degree of independence. The duties related to this position include, but are not limited to the following: Clinical Responsibilities/Treatment: Independently provides specialized Occupational Therapy services at all levels of complexity for veterans with SMI, with service delivery to include assessment, Veteran education, and needed intervention. Demonstrates full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in Occupational Therapy and their proper application using activity analysis, behavioral interventions, frame of reference, and therapeutic procedures. Collaborates with other team members, the veteran, and family members (when appropriate and allowed) to establish treatment goals and strategies based on the evaluation. Identifies needs outside the scope of Occupational Therapy and makes recommendations for appropriate referral. Develops and carries out veteran recovery plans, with a focus on discharge and integration into the community of the veteran's choice. Interventions may address basic ADLs (e.g. bathing, dressing, grooming, hygiene) and IADLs (e.g. money management, medication management, community mobility). When appropriate, utilizes advanced and specialized interventions such as sensory modulation techniques and environmental modifications to impact psychiatric function. Develops and provides psychoeducational and skill-building groups to veterans with SMI, provides wellness and prevention education. Documentation: Accurately documents OT services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by MHSL and PM&RS service. Enters consults to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment. Submits yearly Performance Evaluations and maintains documentation/records pertaining to state licensure and professional board certifications. Triage & Workload Distribution Utilizes technology (virtual meetings, Outlook/Teams, Telehealth if appropriate) to ensure maximum efficiency and to meet urgent patient care needs. Monitors his/her own productivity and clinics and identifies challenges and implements strategies to improve workload efficiency, identifies clinical priorities and allocates time and resources accordingly. Interdisciplinary Coordination & Discharge Planning: Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and care planning. Recommends additional consultations or resources when the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services. Identifies when patients have attained maximum benefit from Occupational Therapy services and terminates services as appropriate. Evaluation and Consultation: Independently utilizes a wide variety of comprehensive evaluations using standard and non-standard evaluation tools to assess a veteran's function in areas including, but not limited to, mobility, perception, cognition, interpersonal skill, computer skills, time management, and activities of daily living. Evaluations take into account the veterans age, lifestyle, culture, supports, living conditions, comorbidities, and history. Evaluates needs for adaptive equipment in accordance with medical center policies and educating the patient and caregiver about safe and effective use. Re-evaluates the patient's status on a regular basis and adjusts the treatment plan appropriately. Obtains clarification for incomplete or unclear orders for the referring provider. Customer Service Exhibits relationships with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public is consistently courteous and cooperative in nature, and overall contributes to the effective operation of MHSL and PM&R services. Seeks and maintains communication and positive liaison with the appropriate personnel of other institutions participating in the Fieldwork program. Meets the needs of the customers while supporting VA mission and communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Conflict and problems in dealing with the customer are handled constructively and appropriately. Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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: A. United States Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). B. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). C. Education and/or Experience: 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. NOTE: 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 degree accreditation requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted 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. Creditable Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is post-graduate experience as a professional occupational therapist directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to professional occupational therapy experience at the next lower level. D. Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist. E. 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. F. Grandfather Provision: 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). G. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Occupational Therapist, GS-13: (1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following: (a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field. (2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. (b) Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. H. Preferred Experience: Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (CPRP) I. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 Part II Appendix G14, Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard, dated December 13, 2019. J. Physical Requirements/ Working Conditions: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 / This work involves standing and walking for about 50% of a normal workday. In addition, the OT must be able to squat, kneel, push, and pull, and lift loads from the ground and from above shoulder height. The physical demand level as defined by the Department of Labor is 'Medium' requiring the occasional lifting of 20-50lbs, the frequent lifting of 10-25lbs and the constant lifting of 10 lbs. during the normal workday. Occupational Therapy also requires manual dexterity and coordination to use computer and computer programs, administer physical agent modalities (if appropriate), fabricate/modify splints and to demonstrate the use of mobility equipment of wheelchairs and walkers. Additionally, the Occupational Therapist must be able to modify such equipment using tools (i.e. scissors, Exacto knives, wrenches and/or screwdrivers). The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.