Occupational Therapy Assistant

Summary

Position is located in the Occupational Therapy Department of the Pain Management and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS) with the Ann Arbor VA medical Center. Under the direct supervision of an Occupational therapist, OTAs plan, coordinate and administer occupational therapy treatment for prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of diverse diagnoses in all practice (inpatient & outpatient) areas to both individuals and groups as well as develop and implement new programs.

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Duties

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Employee receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the Occupational Therapist.
• Plans and implements treatment programs and applies occupational therapy procedures to patients under the supervision of an occupational therapist.
• Consults with the licensed occupational therapist regarding complex or special problem cases.
• Employee may carry out or oversee the work of a lower graded assistants to accommodate requests.
• Secures the confidence and cooperation of Veterans during treatment. Interacts with the patient and family to explain therapy procedures, discuss treatment plans and motivate Veterans and family members to comply with indicated regimens and post discharge activities.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities.
• Independently develops therapeutic regimens for occupational therapy patients based on the assigning occupational therapist's patient evaluation and goals. Modifies the interventions based on the patient s response.
• Completes a review of patient data (including medical history).
• Assists in and renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of occupational therapy treatment programs.
• This is done in consultation with the occupational therapist.
• Screens, advises, and assists Veterans through the occupational therapy regimen. Adapts and adjust occupational therapy procedures as needed.
• Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long and short-term goals
• Independently modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches with prior approval of the therapist.
• Makes modifications within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the Veteran and his or her sociocultural context.
• Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment. Adapts the technical procedures and approaches to meet Veteran's needs.
• Prepares written and oral reports for the occupational therapists and other professionals concerned with care.
• Completes all required computerized computer documentation.
• Performs other related duties, or responsibilities as assigned to support the overall mission of the Occupational Therapy department or the Medical Center.

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

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :

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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 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:
  1. (1) 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).
  2. (2) 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.
• English Language Proficiency . OTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English [in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).]

Grade Determinations :

Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-08 must meet the basic requirements above and possess the following:

(1) Experience . One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level.

(2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) . 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: Clinical experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Must have, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech. However, these impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of any of these functions may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Must be able to sit, stand, bend, twist lift/push/pull up to 40 pounds.

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

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

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

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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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.