Occupational Therapist -ESEP/MP

Summary This position is located at Northern Navajo Medical Center, Division of Clinical Services, Physical Rehabilitation Services Branch, Shiprock, NM. The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct occupational therapy evaluation and treatment, education, and consultation for inpatients and outpatients (regular work week) of all ages with a variety of conditions to improve the health and well-being of patients through the prevention and treatment of disease, disability, and injury. Responsibilities **This position is being announced concurrently under DE - Delegated Examining procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-24-NN-12357132-DE; for eligibility requirements. Performs a wide range of duties requiring professional knowledge of occupational therapy, evidence-based medicine and data collection. Responsibilities include providing evaluation and therapeutic interventions to a full range of ill and injured individuals with needs concerned. Develops and implements complex, goal-oriented treatment plans for patients presenting with a multiplicity of dysfunction and impairments in physical, functional and adaptive areas such as, functional daily activities, adaptive sports, reconditioning, injury prevention, human performance optimization, pain impairments, and reintegration. Plans, coordinates, and implements goal-oriented group and/or focused individual OT treatment programs, selecting activities to increase or improve muscle strength, range of motion and coordination; teaches alternative or compensatory techniques for rehabilitation, reconditioning, self-care, and functional tasks regardless of physical, mental, and/or cognitive deficits. Applies the use of therapeutic modalities and new integrative techniques and technologies for the purpose of evaluation and ongoing treatment. Designs treatment plans to meet patient/clinical objectives to maximize restoration of physical, occupational, and adaptive roles and functions. Recommends MRIs, orders and reviews x-rays, and other radiology studies; and recommends work and activity restrictions, adaptive equipment, and work accommodations. Provides education and consultation to patients and other providers including development of integrated treatment programs and Clinical oversight for OT or COTA students. Maintains licensure and any other mandatory training, educational credits and credentials per clinical requirements as a licensed/registered occupational therapist (i.e. Basic Life Support (BLS), ACLS or other CPR certifications) Performs other duties as assigned. **Note: This is an Open Continuous announcement; applicants will be referred when vacancies occur. The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 15 days after the JOA open date. Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for eight months and may be used at any time during this period. After 8 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must pass pre-employment examination. Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period U.S. Citizenship is required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required. Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty. The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service. On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process. Qualifications To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. Education: A graduate or higher level degree that included: An occupational therapy curriculum approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education(external link) (ACOTE) or a professional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained; and Completion of the clinical requirements prescribed by the school. Note: Applicants who have completed an approved graduate level curriculum and who subsequently completed additional graduate training in a specialized field of clinical practice designed to assure professional competence to practice in the specialty meet the requirements for GS-11. Additional information concerning specialty practice areas is available at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)(external link) website. Certification: For all grade levels, applicants must have passed the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy(external link) (NBCOT). In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OrSpecialized experience include: Program planning, monitoring, and adhering to established Occupational Therapy Performance, Provide Occupational Therapy consultation, evaluation and treatment for inpatient and outpatient clinics. Customize treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities, job site evaluations, recommendations, performance skills assessment, etc. Promote prevention on injury and/or disease. GS-12: Specialized experience include: Demonstrate occupational therapy screening, evaluation, and reevaluation processed providing verbal or written reports of observations and patient capabilities, examination and treatment of patients, using appropriate tools/tests to asses patient dysfunction and develop, implement, and communicate the occupational therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals; current best evidence and clinical reasoning. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). **Note: This is an Open Continuous announcement; applicants will be referred when vacancies occur. The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 15 days after the JOA open date. Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for eight months and may be used at any time during this period. After 8 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/. Additional Information Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 90 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. 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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 1-year service agreement will be required. This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit: For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/ For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps This position has promotion potential to the GS-12 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.