Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant 41-076 (Continuous Recruitment - No written exam required)

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.

All correspondence regarding online applications will be via email. Paper applications containing an email address will also receive email correspondence. If no email is provided, paper notification will arrive via USPS.

Residence requirements: There are no residency requirements for participation in this examination. Preference may be given to successful candidates who have been residents of the municipality or school district in which the appointment is to be made for one month preceding the date of the certification of the eligible list and who are residents of the municipality at the time of appointment. Non-residents may be required to become a resident of the appointing municipality if local law so states.

If you pass the examination, your name will appear on the continuous eligible list for one year. After one year, your name will be removed from the list. You may apply for retest at six month intervals.

The eligible list will be used to fill vacancies at the Erie County Medical Center ($22.85 - $27.79 per hour) and Erie County School Districts. Salaries vary among the School Districts.

A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant treats patients by instructing them in routine activities and activities of daily living; Confers with and instructs other health care workers and patient's family in treatment program techniques; Evaluates and reviews pertinent data relating to overall treatment planning and evaluation; administers standard evaluations; elicits information regarding existing skills and capacities; Identifies appropriate treatment goals and the type of remedial activity to be utilized; Prepares written and oral reports on patients' progress; Assists in training Occupational Therapy students; Assists in planning and development of Occupational Therapy programs for specific disability groups; Maintains Occupational Therapy equipment and inventory of departmental supplies; Assists in carrying out program goals for assigned patient through the application of therapeutic exercises and activities to improve or maintain functional abilities; Performs ADL assessments; Verifies written medical orders for Occupational Therapy; Assists in orientation, instruction and supervision of Occupational Therapy Assistant students; Attends and participates in a variety of meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops related to Occupational Therapy; Assists in ordering, storing and inventory of supplies and equipment; Fabricates and/or repairs adaptive equipment and splints; Attends conferences and clinics relating to patient care.

Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before the date of application:

A) Possession of a license to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in New York State at time of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment; or

B) Possession of a Limited Permit to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in New York State as issued by the New York State Education Department at time of appointment and licensed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in New York State as issued by the New York State Education Department within one year and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.

Special requirements at Erie County Medical Center Corporation:

• Possession of Occupational Therapy Assistant certification* (see Note) as issued by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) within one (1) year of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment; and
• Possession of Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from an ECMCC approved provider within sixty (60) days of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.

In addition, special requirements for assignment to Behavioral Health Area:

• Completion of New York State Office of Mental Health Bureau of Education and Workforce Development (BEWD) certified safety program within three (3) months of appointment and participation in annual re-training; and
• Section 424-a of the Social Services Law requires the local social services district to inquire whether the applicant is the subject of an indicated child abuse or maltreatment report on file with the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. All potential employees for this position will be requested to sign the necessary clearance form prior to being advised that they will be hired. Refusal to sign will be cause for an automatic non-selection.

Subjects of Examination: The only subject of examination will be an evaluation of your training and experience. You are therefore, asked to include in your application a summary of all pertinent training and experience in sufficient detail so that your background may be evaluated against the duties of the position.

In your summary of training include all college course work, formal in-service training, and seminars you have attended. You must specify either the number of credits received or the number of contact hours and dates of attendance. Also include a copy of your professional license. Specify the date that your license was first issued.

In your summary of experience, you must specify the dates of your employment, the number of hours worked per week, your title, and the main duties for each. Be specific; vagueness and ambiguity will NOT be resolved in your favor. Candidates who submit incomplete applications or documentation may be disqualified.

Benefits offered to full-time employees represented by CSEA in Erie County:

Health benefits:

• Erie County offers comprehensive health insurance plans through the Labor-Management Healthcare Fund (LMHF), administered by Univera Healthcare. Eligible employees can choose from the following plans:
• Enhanced Plan (POS 202)
• Core Plan (POS 203)
• Value Plan (POS 204)
• Bronze High Deductible Plan (POS 8200)

Plan details:

• Value Plan (POS 204): This is the default plan for all new employees. These employees are required to contribute 15% of the plan's premium through pre-tax payroll deductions.
• Enhanced Plan (POS 202) & Core Plan (POS 203): Employees opting for these plans must pay the difference in cost between their selected plan and the employer's contribution toward the Value Plan.
• Bronze High Deductible Plan (POS 8200): Available to all employees regardless of hire date, the County covers 100% of the premium for this plan. It features a $2,000 individual / $4,000 family deductible and includes preventive services covered in full.

Health Insurance Waiver: Full-time employees who waive participation in the County's health insurance plan and are not covered by another County health insurance plan receive, in lieu of the insurance, $500 per month for Family Coverage or $200 per month for Individual Coverage.

Dental Insurance: Full-time employees represented by CSEA in Erie County receive dental coverage through the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF). The County contributes $22.13 per bi-weekly pay period for single coverage and $72.69 for family coverage.

Health Flexible Spending Account: Erie County offers a Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), allowing employees to set aside up to a maximum amount set by the IRS each year in pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Paid time off:

• Holidays: 12 paid holidays annually, including Juneteenth and Election Day.
• Vacation Leave: Starts at 10 days per year, increases to up to 30 days with years of service. Can be accrued up to 25 days; unused vacation is payable upon separation. Eighty (80) hours of unused vacation time can be sold back annually, subject to minimum balance requirements.
• Sick Leave: Accrues at 15 days per year (4.62 hrs per pay period). Unused sick leave may be accrued up to 300 days (for employees hired after August 7, 2014).
• Personal Leave: Four days per year (for employees hired after August 7, 2014).
• Bereavement Leave: Up to four paid days for immediate family.

Retirement: New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System

• Eligible employees are enrolled in the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLRS, administered by the Office of the State Comptroller. NYSLRS is one of the largest and most secure public pension systems in the United States, providing over one million public employees, retirees, and beneficiaries with reliable, lifetime retirement income, disability protection, and death benefits. All employees are eligible to join, and full-time permanent employees are required to join.
• An employee's tier is determined by their date of membership; employees who joined on or after April 1, 2012, are classified as Tier 6 members. Tier 6 members become vested after 5 years of credited service, with an option to retire as early as age 55.
• Tier 6 members are required to contribute between 3% and 6% of gross reportable earnings for all years of public service. Contribution