Occupational Therapist - Recruitment-Relocation ...

Occupational Therapist - Recruitment-Relocation Incentive The primary purpose of the position: OT serves as a member the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service under Program VII; performance level is responsible providing comprehensive assessments and interventions in an outpatient clinical setting. The organizational location of the position: to provide services within the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) in multiple locations to include Tyler, Dallas, Garland, Fort Worth, and Bonham. Primary assignment location is Tyler VA OPC. This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, Health Professional Trainees, and all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 07/01/2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 01/05/2026, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. Duties include but not limited to: Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity of medical condition. Coordinates Veteran schedule with other interdisciplinary team members. Evaluations reflect the complexity through Occupational profile and client history; Assessments of occupational performance; Clinical decision-making and development of a patient centered plan of care. Assess the patient's medical conditions, functional capabilities, limitations, restrictions, and rehabilitation potential. Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective, measurable goals, and timeliness for completion. Implements complex and innovative therapeutic techniques not limited to: Therapeutic media, lifestyle coping skills and modifications, complementary and alternative modalities (CAM), cognitive therapy and mobility training to maintain or achieve veteran's physical and/or emotional rehabilitation potential. Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to the patient population being treated. Demonstrates knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence- based practice. Receive and triage patient referrals/consults, patient self-referrals, adheres to consult compliance established guidelines and is knowledgeable of admission criteria for each program (inpatient/outpatient) for appropriate continuum of care placement. Schedules Veterans for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for family conferences. Assists with coverage to other PM&R clinics as needed. Maintains current concepts and trends in Occupational therapy and evidence- based medicine/rehabilitation practices through literature reviews, study of current research, clinical practice, and through attendance to continuing education courses, conferences, and in-services. Complies with annual educational requirements: mandatory training and continuing education hours as required by facility and Occupational Therapy state board to maintain professional license/registration and competency. Keeps comprehensive records of innovative treatment procedures for future application by other staff members. Uses research evidence-based examination and evidence-based exercise prescription for more-effective patient care. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend and holiday coverage. Telework: Not available Functional Statement #: 53714-F, 53715-F, 53716-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified employee. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) 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 (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. 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. 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: (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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements above 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). Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2).(2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed.(3) A graduate OT may

Created: 2026-03-12