The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) position is located in the Spinal Cord Injury Therapy Clinic within the Occupational Therapy Department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) in the James A. Haley VA Medical Center. The OTA provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction.

Duties

Major Duties: The Occupational Therapy Assistant administers and monitors therapeutic interventions based on goals formulated by an Occupational Therapist. Additional duties include clinical training of occupational therapy assistant students and completion of various administrative tasks within the department. Incumbent may be assigned to any clinical area serviced by occupational therapy, including, but not limited to: inpatient rehabilitation, SCI, mental health, acute care/medical surgical, polytrauma, pain, PREP, PTRP, outpatient, and SCI home care. The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out throughout the medical center including various clinical, administrative and patient care areas associated with PM&RS. Receives/Interprets Therapy Requests: Receives and interprets requests or instructions for occupational therapy procedures. Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status and ascertaining patient's need for therapy services. Procedures require close consultation with a therapist or physician. Secures Patient Confidence/Cooperation: 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. May oversee and assist lower graded assistants. Assists With or Renders Treatment Based on Patient Needs: Assists with or independently renders specialized occupational therapy treatments and procedures based on the assessed needs of the patient. Monitors and records veteran's condition during treatment. Takes appropriate measures to sustain patient's condition during treatment and takes appropriate action when deviations in veteran's condition are recognized. Records veteran's response to treatment and ensures that this is made part of the permanent medical record. Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments. Maintains a work safe environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc. Adapts and Adjusts Procedures: Screens, advises, and assists veterans through the occupational therapy regimen. Adapts and adjusts 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 involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet the individual veteran's needs. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency. OTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English [in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Completion of a military training program in an OTA program accredited by the ACOTE. (MILITARY TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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). (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) 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. (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with Human Resource (HR) Office staff must remove employees in this occupation who fail to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, which may result in termination of employment. Exceptions for Non-Certified or Non-Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant. 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(c)(2). OTAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure and/or certification are obtained. OTAs may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OTA or OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. Temporary OTA appointments may not be extended beyond two years. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. 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. Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-06. Experience.One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy practice. Knowledge of basic group techniques and interpersonal communication. Skill in written communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education. Skill in oral communication to document data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education. Ability to assist in the development of treatment goals/objectives. 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 (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in promoting occupational therapy services effectively, providing training and interventions within the assigned areas. Ability to perform in depth chart review to identify treatment goals and implement treatment plans. Ability to use problem-solving skills when providing therapeutic interventions for patients. 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: Ability to implement delegated assessments. Ability to provide reports of observations and patient performance. Ability to use complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills to maximize patient's functional status. Ability to modify therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities. Ability to recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment. Ability to consult with health care practitioners about the patient's treatment plan and the occupational therapy scope of practice and services. Preferred Experience: Spinal Cord Injury experience preferred References: VA Handbook 5005/145 PART II APPENDIX G22 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Paula Velez
• Phone: 708-953-6248
• Email: [email protected]