Job Details

Occupational Therapy Assistant

The position is in the Occupational Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) in the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare Systems (CAVHCS). The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides rehabilitative services to people with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improve and/or prevents the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promote wellness.

Responsibilities duties include, however, not limited to:

• Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the occupational therapist or physician.
• Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and apply occupational therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of an occupational therapist.
• Carries out or may oversee the work of lower graded assistants or support staff, students, and volunteers.
• 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.
• Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of occupational therapy treatment programs.
• Assists the occupational therapist in development and implementation of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short-term goals.
• Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimen and post-discharge activities.
• Interacts with the patients and family regarding goals for treatment.
• Assists in the performance of, or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures within the OTA Practice Act.
• Instructs, motivates, and assist patients to learn activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living, to improve the functional performance and safety of these activities.
• Utilizes the full range of modalities including heat, cold, and sound demonstrate competence.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 60562F, 60563F, 60565F, 60203F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements 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 dentification 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.

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. 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. English Language Proficiency. OTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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. Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in an OTA entry level developmental position under direct clinical direction and partnership of an OT. The treating OT is available on a regularly scheduled basis to review the practice of the OTA and support the OTA in the performance of his/her services. OTAs perform preliminary chart review including medical history and looking for contraindications for treatment. They provide functional and purposeful intervention 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. OTAs recommend treatment changes based on changes in physical, mental, and/or medical status of the patient. They follow guidelines from the AOTA, The Joint Commission (TJC) and current VHA policy and protocols as instructed by supervisor.

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: (1) Ability to implement delegated assessments. (2) Ability to provide reports of observations and patient performance. (3) Ability to use complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills to maximize patient's functional status. (4) Ability to modify therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities. (5) Ability to recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and durable medical equipment. (6) Ability to consult with health care practitioners about the patient's treatment plan and the occupational therapy scope of practice and services.

Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level OTA. OTAs at this level receive minimum guidance from the OT and seek guidance for more complex patients and specialized treatment procedures. They contribute to the screening, evaluation and re-evaluation process by administering delegated assessments and reporting observations and patient performance to the OT. OTAs plan, coordinate and administer occupational therapy treatment for prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of diverse diagnoses in all practice areas to both individuals and groups as well as develop and implement new programs. They recommend and modify assistive devices and instruct patients on their care and use to ensure optimal performance. OTAs independently provide patient education on areas of occupation, assistive devices and orthotics based on patient's and families' level of cognition, cultural and/or behavioral variables. OTAs collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to make recommendations for the patient's rehabilitation, reintegration and disposition needs. They develop, participate in and ensure compliance with quality improvement activities through participation in medical center/section committees as delegated.