Summary This Occupational Therapist is located within the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program of the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Line (RECL) at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. This Occupational Therapist will be required to travel to Veteran's homes to provide therapy services as needed. Responsibilities The Occupational Therapist is assigned the responsibilities of planning, developing, and implementing effective evaluation and treatment programs in the delivery of Occupational Therapy services primarily for patients assigned to the Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC) program. This therapist may also provide Occupational Therapy services, as needed, to patients referred to Occupational Therapy and not enrolled in the home care programs. Duties of the Occupational Therapist may include, but are not limited to: Following referral/consult from a physician or other approved provider, reviews medical records and independently evaluates each patient to determine functional deficits and the best method to accomplish rehabilitation goals. Evaluations include medical history, results and interpretation of appropriate functional tests and measurements such as: range of motion, muscle strength, sensory deficits, coordination, functional mobility, pain scales, etc. Utilizes standard and non-standard methods in the evaluation and interpretation of a wide variety of physical functional levels. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical disabilities or medical conditions. Accurately completes functional assessments using approved outcomes measure. Completes home accessibility and safety assessments. Makes recommendations to improve safety and accessibility as needed. Assesses appropriateness of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and other Activities of Daily Living (ADL) equipment already in the patient's residence. Demonstrate the ability to adjust, adapt, and modify adaptive equipment for activities of daily living. Determines need for additional DME and ADL equipment to appropriately meet the needs of the veteran within the home environment. Consults with physicians, other medical personnel, caregivers, specialists, families and patients to maximize benefit of therapy programming and to provide continuity of care within the home. Practices appropriate infection control procedures, personal safety, patient safety, patient privacy and treatment precautions pertinent to patient's condition or disease process and the location of patient encounter. Follows guidelines and safety measures in completing home visits and associated travel. Initiates prosthetic request for equipment and devices. Initiates recommendations for home improvement and structural alterations program. Procures, fabricates, adjusts, adapts, and modifies orthosis, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living as indicated by patient need. Documents results of evaluations, patient treatment including patient/family education, and patient's response to treatment in accordance with MEDVAMC, RECL, policies and The Joint Commission (TJC) standards. Refers patients for community resources as needed. Interprets results of Occupational Therapy evaluations and treatment outcomes to patients, families, and medical staff. Utilizes appropriate teaching methods and learning principles with creativity and tact, motivates patients to achieve their maximum performance. Serves as a resource person for other staff in regards to Occupational Therapy and the HBPC patient. Attends HBPC interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings, family conferences, and staff meetings as indicated and be able to document participation at IDT meetings. Serves as the RECL liaison for referrals to other programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (subject to change based on agency need) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-00026-F 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. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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. Must be able to independently operate Government Vehicle. Must provide clean driving record report from the DMV during the pre-employment process. 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. Qualifications 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 and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph 3b(2) if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph 3e of this appendix. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits. (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. (c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients. (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. 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). Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in the home environment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. 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. 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.