Summary Position is overseen by the Occupational Therapy Department of the Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) of the Ann Arbor HCS. Work sites include the CBOC in Toledo, the Ann Arbor VA hospital and in the community as designated by the program. The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of the acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction. Responsibilities Receives/Interprets Therapy Requests: Receives and interprets requests or instructions for occupational therapy procedures. Completes a preliminary review/examinations of patients 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. Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies occupational therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of an occupational therapist. Employee may carry out or oversee the work of a lower graded assistants to accommodate requests. 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 grade assistants. Assists with or renders treatment based on patients' 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 and response to treatment. Takes appropriate measures to sustain patient's condition during treatment and takes appropriate action when deviations in Veteran's condition are recognized. Maintains a work safe environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, inventory, etc. Adapts and Adjusts Procedures: 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. Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92808-A 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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) 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapy Assistant, GS-08 (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience and skills working with homeless veterans and veterans having mental health disorders. Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15 PART II APPENDIX G22. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve but not limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the occupational therapy clinic or at the patient's bedside. This position will also involve sedentary work involving computers and communications. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.