Occupational Therapy Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Ann Arbor, MI, seeks an Occupational Therapy Assistant (GS-08) to plan, coordinate and administer occupational therapy treatment for prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of diverse diagnoses in inpatient and outpatient settings within the PM&RS division.

The OTA will work under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist and contribute to development of new programs.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required (or eligible per VA policy)
• Associate's degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from ACOTE-accredited program
• Completion of NBCOT entry-level certification for OTAs
• Full, current, unrestricted OT state license to practice
• English language proficiency (spoken and written) per 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and administer occupational therapy treatment for prevention, remediation and rehabilitation
• Develop and implement new OT programs for inpatients and outpatients
• Work under direct supervision of an occupational therapist
• Provide examples and reports of observations and patient performance
• Consult with health care practitioners about patient treatment plans and OT scope of practice

Skills

Assessment delivery

Observation & reporting

Therapy techniques & interventions

Interventions modification

Adaptive devices recommendations

Interdisciplinary consultation

Education

Associate's Degree in Occupational Therapy

ACOTE-accredited OTA program

NBCOT certification

State licensure (unrestricted)

Job description

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.

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 following requirements:
• (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) 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: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.