Occupational Therapist

This position serves as an Occupational Therapist within the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center, which is under the Mental Health Product Line at the Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System. The Occupational Therapist will specifically address the complex needs of veterans with Serious Mental Illness and functional impairment in a state-of-the-art behavioral health program, which provides services based on the psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery model.

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-9 and GS-11 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of fund. The Occupational Therapist functions in accordance with the policies, principles, professional ethics, and techniques of accepted occupational therapy practice including the American Occupational Therapy Association, professional licensing code, and state law. The incumbent will perform the following duties as a regular recurring part of the job:

• Provide specialized occupational therapy services at all levels of complexity for Veterans with SMI, with service delivery to include assessment, Veteran education, and needed intervention.
• Utilize 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.
• Demonstrate 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.
• Collaborate with other team members, the Veteran, and significant others (when appropriate and allowed) to establish treatment goals and strategies.
• Identify needs outside the scope of occupational therapy and makes recommendations for appropriate referral.
• Develop and carry out Veteran recovery plans, with a focus on integration into community of the Veteran's choice. Interventions may address activities of daily living, community and household activities, remedial computer skills, strengthening community hardiness, and using public transportation, among others. When appropriate, utilizes advanced and specialized interventions such as sensory modulation techniques and environmental modifications to impact psychiatric function.
• Develop and provide psychoeducational and skill-building groups to Veterans with serious mental illness.
• Provide wellness and prevention education and facilitate veterans and family support groups as appropriate.
• Work with inpatient and other behavioral health teams to assure continuity of care.
• Submit timely and accurate documentation including assessments, recovery plans, progress notes, transition plans, discharge summaries, etc.
• Assist in the design and development of psychosocial rehabilitation services.
• Network and provide outreach to community organizations to increase community integration opportunities for veterans.
• Other duties as assigned.