Occupational Therapy Assistant

The Float position in the occupational therapy department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) in the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) in in-patient, out-patient, and community based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). The OTA provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction. Basic Requirements :

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
• Education. Applicants must have an associate's 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).
• 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).

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: :
GS-8 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7). 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G22- Occupational Therapy Assistant Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: A Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.
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: . 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: .