Occupational Therapy Assistant

Summary

The position is in the Occupational Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) in the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improve and/or prevent the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness.

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Duties

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Duties of an OTA:

• Provides direct and indirect occupational therapy services to address physical, psychosocial, cognitive, congenital, and/or developmental disorders or the aging process, to improve and/or prevent loss of physical or mental functioning and to promote wellness.
• Performs preliminary chart review including medical history and contraindications for treatment.
• Provides functional and purposeful interventions to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.
• Recommends treatment changes based on physical, mental, and/or medical status of the patient as well as reporting progress toward the attainment of established goals.
• Identifies and recommends adaptive and assistive devices, mobility devices, and durable medical equipment.
• Provides patient education in areas of occupation, assistive devices, positioning, mobility devices, and orthotics based on patient and family levels of cognition, cultural and/or behavioral variables.
• Documents Occupational Therapy services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by PMRS, the Medical Center, VHA policy and protocols, and other entities that may govern programs provided by the Facility.
• Performs non-direct patient care tasks including, but not limited to, coordinating schedules with team members and monitoring inventory of clinical supplies.
• Performs and assists in the day-to-day management of the mobility clinic including, but not limited to, wheelchair training and fitting, testing, equipment ordering, scheduling and follow-up as indicated.
• Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific and complex adaptive and mobility equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment.
• Carries a full patient caseload as directed by department needs.
• Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued
• Maintains patient schedule and attendance for each patient assigned.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings including chart rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning.
• Participates in Occupational Therapy and service staff meetings.
• Presents in-services as needed or directed.
• Designs and /or participates in quality assurance activities as directed and has a working knowledge of departmental performance improvement projects.
• Issues supply/stock and submits requests to the appropriate personnel, including supervisor.
• Shares in the maintenance of equipment and complies with safety standards.
• Participates in CARF and Joint Commission activities to ensure compliance and accreditation.
• Assists with management of the mobility clinic at the direction of the Occupational Therapy Supervisor or Mobility Clinic Coordinator.
• Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources.
• Needs to have a current, valid Driver's license when required to drive a Government vehicle.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible : Not available

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Telework : Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 614060, 614070,614080,614090

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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.
• 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 ( 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

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 :

• United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Associate's [or higher] degree in occupational therapy from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
  • Completion of a military training program in an OTA program accredited by the ACOTE.
• Certification. OTAs must have written documentation that they have passed the entry-level certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
• Licensure . OTAs must hold a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a State, Territory, a Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or in the District of Columbia.
  • Exceptions for Non-Certified or Non-Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (1) OTAs who graduated from an ACOTE approved occupational therapy assistant program but do not possess the NBCOT certification and/or licensure requirements, may be appointed, pending licensure and/or NBCOT certification, on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405( (2) OTAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure and/or certification are obtained. (3) OTAs may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OTA or OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.(4) Temporary OTA appointments may not be extended beyond two years.
• Drivers License . OTA's must possess and maintain a current, valid, and unrestricted state drivers license for this position.

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).

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-05

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities None.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-06

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy practice.
  • (b) Knowledge of basic group techniques and interpersonal communication
  • (c) Skill in written communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education.
  • (d) Skill in oral communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education.
  • (e) Ability to assist in the development of treatment goals/objectives.
  • (f) Ability to implement a patient care plan incorporating activity analysis theory.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-07

• Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. [In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Skill in promoting occupational therapy services effectively, providing training and interventions within the assigned areas
  • (b) Ability to perform in depth chart review to identify treatment goals and implement treatment plans.
  • (c) Ability to use problem-solving skills when providing therapeutic interventions for patients.
  • (d) Ability to provide multi-step instructions to patients, caregivers and other health care professionals adapting instructions to meet the learning needs of the individual.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-08

• Experience. One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Ability to implement delegated assessments.
  • (b) Ability to provide reports of observations and patient performance.
  • (c) Ability to use complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills to maximize patient's functional status.
  • (d) Ability to modify therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities.
  • (e) Ability to recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment.
  • (f) Ability to consult with health care practitioners about the patient's treatment plan and the occupational therapy scope of practice and services.

Preferred Experience: 1-2 years working with the adult to geriatric population. Experience in outpatient, inpatient ,and/or working with custom wheelchairs and positioning is a plus.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength according to the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails: exerting 20 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (i.e.: more than exerting of to 20 points of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.)

Examples of the medium strength required by occupational therapists are as follows:

a. Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day.

b. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts and binders.

c. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling: 1 10 pounds constantly, 10 25 frequently, and 20 50 pounds occasionally.

Specific examples include: i. Picking up, carrying and placing folders, charts, books and binders. ii. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. iii. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. iv. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and supply carts. v. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers, which may be up to 50 pounds. vi. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of patient's extremities in all planes of motion.

Occupational Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with examples as follows: a. Operating all aspects of a computer keyboarding, mouse, and control buttons. b. Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for patient teaching. c. Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers.

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: 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:

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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