Clarification from the agency

1. Current, permanent employees of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, including CBOCs and VCS employees. 2. Current, permanent employees of the VA Nationwide.

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Recreation Therapists evaluate the history, interests, aptitudes and skills of patients by interviews, inventories, tests and measurements. Therapists use such fmdings, along with medical records or therapy orders of physicians or nurse practitioners to develop and implement therapeutic interventions for individual patients. Employing the knowledge and understanding of physical and mental illness, psychology and other appropriate physical, social and biological sciences and skill in recreation therapy, therapists plan and carry out treatment programs. These programs are directed to treatment goals that include but are not limited to sensory integration, ambulation, diminishing emotional stress, community integration, reality orientation, muscular dysfunction re-orientation, treatment of psychosocial dysfunction, providing a sense of achievement and progress. Therapists conduct ongoing evaluations of therapy results and modify, redirect, adjust and/or augment treatment plans as indicated by each patient's response to treatment or progress related to patient's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs, skills, aptitudes, abilities and interests. Therapists provide a diverse variation of therapy services as both adjunctive and primary therapy services, depending on the need. When serving on interdisciplinary treatment teams, therapists use professional knowledge and skills in the integration of recreation therapy into overall team treatment plans.

Major Duties:

-Responsible for respecting all Veterans, their caregivers and extended families by exhibiting sensitivity to their needs, tolerances, and individual differences including values, social backgrounds and ethnic group.
- Effectively. uses professional skill, objectivity and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions.
- Communicates confidence in the patient's ability and facilitates therapeutic process and progress.
- Supervises implementation of programs for groups and individuals
- Maintains appropriate professional boundaries and provides appropriate recognition for growth.
- Develops and provides effective clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care and Professional Ethics.
- Provides the necessary and/or adapted equipment, materials, instruction, supplies, encouragement and motivation to successfully engage with each patient in the therapeutic process.
- Uses proper judgment in determining specialized approaches, appropriate therapeutic modalities and the appropriate interval of treatment in administering clinical interventions.
- Manages difficult cases that may require unconventional applications to treatment and resourcefulness in devising effective methods and procedures and may counsel patients on the need for positive leisure lifestyle, constructive use of leisure time, coping skills, social interaction skills and community leisure resources and services.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, varying weekends
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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. The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist:

Recreation Therapist

(a) A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC);

OR,

(b) A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.

Required Certification:

Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived.

Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification. In all cases, recreation and creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration and/or certification requirements, starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registration/certification, the date by which the registration and/or certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreation and creative arts therapist occupation and may
result in termination of employment.

Loss of Credential. A recreation or creative arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registration and/or certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations: Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Recreation Therapist, GS-11

(a) Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

i. Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilization of unconventional methods and techniques.
ii. Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
iii. Skill in effectively communicating and educating, in a clear and concise manner, with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the interdisciplinary treatment process.
iv. Skill in independently utilizing appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care in areas such as, but not limited to recommendations for recreation therapy assistive devices, including fit and function.
v. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
vi. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
References: Input applicable VA Handbook 5005 reference and appropriate VA Qualification Standard

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting and repositioning patients; pushing or pulling heavy objects - including Veterans in wheelchairs, gurneys; leading or directing physical activities/exercise. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapy procedures, as well as skill and ability in the therapist's respective discipline. Position requires a valid driver's license and may also include a valid CDL driver's license.

Work Environment: The work, which is performed in clinics, wards, offices, conference rooms, facility grounds and in the community, involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts that require special safety and health precautions (i.e. working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases, and/or physical injury as the result of a patient's assaultive/aggressive behavior that is secondary to a mental health diagnosis). The therapist may be required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection and to follow appropriate policies and procedures related to Infectious Disease and Standard Precautions.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, 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.