Occupational Therapy Assistant
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Description: Department of Veterans Affairs is in need of Occupational Therapy Assistant right now, this vacancy will be dwelled in Wisconsin. Further informations about this vacancy opportunity kindly read the description below. OUR MISSION:
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honor! ing the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 923291
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: 1. CURRENT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY FOR WHICH THE POSITION IS BEING ADVERTISED 2. ALL OTHER CANDIDATES.
FPL and Below -
NOTE:
The full performance level of this vacancy is 07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 04 to 07. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed. The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your f! ingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically ad! vanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The Health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not coverd by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U. S. Citizenship
Must pass pre-employment examination
English Language Proficiency required
Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
Background and-or Security Investigation required
DUTIES:
The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) is assigned to the inpatient psychiatry unit and
assists in the outpatient OT Clinic, working in an interdisciplinary team.
The incumbent provides rehabilitative interventions to a population of veterans.
The COTA performs chart reviews and performs standard evaluati! ons directed at ascertaining the patient's level of cognitive, neuromuscular, sensory-motor, affective, self-care, and psychosocial functioning.
The Therapy Assistant carries out patient education based on input from supervising therapist who has assessed the patient's educational needs, abilities, and barriers to learning.
The incumbent instructs the patient and/or caregiver on topics which include but are not limited to the patient's functional skill level, environmental adaptation, rink prediction based on cognitive and functional limitations, therapeutic activities, and exercise programming.
The COTA assists with clinical and didactic training experiences for pre-clinical Occupational Therapy students, Occupational Therapy interns, Psych Rehab interns, and art therapy interns.
The incumbent also educates interdisciplinary health care students, interns, and residents on topics related to the role of Occupational Therapy in the inpatien! t setting.
The assistant may participate in data aggregation a! nd reduction, assist in defining corrective solutions for identified problems, and implement corrective actions.
Work Schedule:
40 hours (flexible) within a Mon-Fri schedule of 8-4:30; some evenings may be required.
Relocation Expenses:
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
Physical effort: Physical activity (including bending, some lifting, exercising, etc) is involved in leading groups.
Working conditions: work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office or group rooms on a psychiatric unit.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
To qualify for this position,
applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Citizenship.
C
itizen of the
United States
.
(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit! qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
E
ducation.
Successful completion of an associateÂ'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).
Physical Requirements
.
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Language Proficiency.
OTAs
must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
GS-4
(a)
Experience
.
None beyond the basic requirements.
(b)
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1
.
Ability to review patient data and make a preliminary determination of their needs.
2
.
Ability to obtain subjective history.
3
.
Ability to interpret information gained th! rough subjective history.
4
.
Ability to communicate with health care providers, patients, and staff for optimal patient care.
GS-5
(a)
Experience.
In addition to the basic requirements, 6 months of experience comparable to the next lower grade level.
Experience may have been gained as an OTA, rehabilitation aide, technician, volunteer, or in the medical health services field.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(b)
Demonstrated
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1
.
Ability to assist in the development of treatment goals/objectives.
2
.
Ability to implement a patient care plan incorporating activity analysis theory.
3
.
Skill in written communication to document preliminary data, progress/change in status, discharge status, and patient or caregiver education.
4
.
Knowledge of basic group techniques and interpersonal communications.
5
.
Ability to assist in the use of standardized assessment tools to the area of practice assigned.
GS-6
(a)
Experience
.
In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(b)
Demonstrated
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1
.
Knowledge of a variety of standardized assessment tools in order to provide a more comprehensive intervention under the supervision of an occupational therapist.
2
.
Ability to use problem-solving skills when providing therapeutic interventions for patients who have a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities.
3
.
Ability to provide complex/multi-step instr! uctions to patients, caregivers, and other health care professionals ad! apting instructions to meet the learning needs of the individual.
4
.
Ability to promote occupational therapy services effectively, providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.
GS-7
(a)
Experience.
In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(b)
Demonstrated
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1
.
Ability to utilize more complex therapeutic techniques and interventions, utilizing problem-solving skills, to maximize patientÂ's functional status.
2
.
Ability to modify and adapt therapeutic interventions for simple and complex cases with a wide range of diagnoses and disabilities.
3
.
Ability to identify and recommend complex adaptive and assistive devices and dura! ble medical equipment.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE
. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can ! verify accreditation at the following website:
http://www.ed.g! ov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.
Veterans' Preference:
When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s ) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, pl! ease review the information for disabled Veterans in the application
checklist
or visit
http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx
.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
To begin the process, click the
Apply Online
button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the
Submit My Answers
button at the end of t! he process.
BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of! Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at
http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp
.
Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Placement Policy:
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
- .
If you were eligible to this vacancy, please deliver us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department of Veterans Affairs.
Interested on this vacancy, just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This vacancy starts available on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 10:20:58 GMT
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