The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) staff position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMRS) Service at the Hampton VA Medical Center. In this position will be assigned to provide comprehensive occupational therapy services to veterans with mental, physical, or cognitive impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve veteran's quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living. 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).] 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. Exceptions for Non-Certified or Non-Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant: (1) 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). (2) OTAs may only be appointed at the entry grade level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure and/or certification are obtained. (3) OTAs may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OTA or OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. (4) Temporary OTA appointments may not be extended beyond two years. 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: None. 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: (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: At least one year experience working in long term care, SNF setting for the CLC Short stay / LTC unit. Cross coverage skills in inpatient and outpatient OT population but primarily seeking and OT assistant with long term, geriatric, rehab experience. Able to demonstrate team player skills and take direction from multiple clinical OTR Supervisors. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G22. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. ["Duties include: 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. Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies occupational therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of an occupational therapist. Communicates findings of assessments to the OT for treatment planning. Identify situations in which occupational therapy services may be warranted and advocate within the program for an OT evaluation. Offers information for treatment planning and is an active participant in team treatment of the veteran. 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. 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 treatments. Provides orientation/training of medical staff to the occupational therapy program. Participates with OT in developing guidelines/protocols in treatment of various diagnoses and in developing new patient care programs and evaluation of existing programs. Maintains patient records and other data required by the section, service and medical center. Work Schedule: Mon - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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