Occupational Therapy Assistant

About the role

The position is in the Occupational Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) in the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improve and/or prevent the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness.

What you will do

• Provides direct and indirect occupational therapy services to address physical, psychosocial, cognitive, congenital, and/or developmental disorders or the aging process, to improve and/or prevent loss of physical or mental functioning and to promote wellness.
• Performs preliminary chart review including medical history and contraindications for treatment.
• Provides functional and purposeful interventions 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.
• Recommends treatment changes based on physical, mental, and/or medical status of the patient as well as reporting progress toward the attainment of established goals.
• Identifies and recommends adaptive and assistive devices, mobility devices, and durable medical equipment.
• Provides patient education in areas of occupation, assistive devices, positioning, mobility devices, and orthotics based on patient and family levels of cognition, cultural and/or behavioral variables.
• Documents Occupational Therapy services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by PMRS, the Medical Center, VHA policy and protocols, and other entities that may govern programs provided by the Facility.
• Performs non-direct patient care tasks including, but not limited to, coordinating schedules with team members and monitoring inventory of clinical supplies.
• Performs and assists in the day-to-day management of the mobility clinic including, but not limited to, wheelchair training and fitting, testing, equipment ordering, scheduling and follow-up as indicated.
• Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific and complex adaptive and mobility equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment.
• Carries a full patient caseload as directed by department needs.
• Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued Maintains patient schedule and attendance for each patient assigned.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings including chart rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning.
• Participates in Occupational Therapy and service staff meetings.
• Presents in-services as needed or directed.
• Designs and /or participates in quality assurance activities as directed and has a working knowledge of departmental performance improvement projects.
• Issues supply/stock and submits requests to the appropriate personnel, including supervisor.
• Shares in the maintenance of equipment and complies with safety standards.
• Participates in CARF and Joint Commission activities to ensure compliance and accreditation.
• Assists with management of the mobility clinic at the direction of the Occupational Therapy Supervisor or Mobility Clinic Coordinator.
• Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources.
• Needs to have a current, valid Driver's license when required to drive a Government vehicle.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 614060, 614070,614080,614090 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 identification 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.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript .
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

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.

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.