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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Major duties include, but are not limited to :

• Responsible for carrying out a full range of Therapeutic Recreation Services inclusive of recreation therapeutic modalities and general recreation (diversional) activities. These interventions include both the clinical and community setting and address the assessed needs of the patients, utilizing appropriate motivational and leadership approaches.
• Works with patients who have a variety of illnesses, diseases and/or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment.
• Provides guidance and leadership to the various activities modifying, adapting, expanding, or otherwise changing plans and procedures for scheduled recreation activities.
• Independently supervises on-station and off-station general (diversional) activity programs for various types of disabilities which include mental health diagnoses, dementia, neuro­ muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, head injury, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, and patients with multiple diagnoses.
• Collaborates with professional Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS/TRS) to select, adapt, and/or adjust recreation therapy modalities in accordance with treatment goals.
• Supervise and assist with activities sponsored by volunteer groups for the service and will complete any forms as necessary and appropriate.
• Schedules and publicizes recreation activities, ensuring maximum effectiveness in attracting and motivating participants and in providing the widest possible range of activities in terms of interests and needs.
• Requests funds for purchases.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am until 4:30pm. Works every other weekend. Occasional evenings may be required due to programming.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following:

Specialized Experience: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in federal service (GS-5 that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this Therapy Assistant position. Specialized experience includes work as an assistant to one of the specialized therapies such as occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy; or experience gained as an assistant or aid in patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic. Applicants must be able to plan and carry out activities of direct patient care, such as therapeutic activities using recreational materials/equipment to provide therapeutic exercises and documenting patient response and progress. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~

Education: Successfully completed one-half year (9 semester hours) of graduate education with course work that is directly related to the position of a Therapy Assistant. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~

Combination: A combination of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Interpersonal Skills
• Technical Competence

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such 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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: The work required regular and recurring physical exertion such as extended periods of standing or walking for prolonged periods of time and over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; frequent bending, crouching, reaching, stooping, and stretching or similar activities to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as bowling and sports equipment and repositioning patients; and pushing or pulling heavy objects. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapeutic procedures. Must be able to push wheelchair patients on level and inclined ground and physically able to drive the station vehicles and complete all requirements for operating VHA vehicle.

The work environment includes clinics, wards, offices, conference rooms and the community. The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts that require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The incumbent is required to wear protective clothing such as gown, gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection and to follow appropriate policies and procedures related to Infections Disease and Standard Precautions.
The incumbent is exposed to patients with a variety of disabilities and illnesses that include physical, cognitive, and /or psychiatric conditions. Many patients encountered are emotionally disturbed and may demonstrate assaultive/aggressive behaviors secondary to chronic schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, unaffected mental disorders, dementia's, delirium, adjustment disorders, etc. Drives a van or wheelchair bus with patients in the community. Is exposed to weather conditions and medical emergencies. Electrical and mechanical equipment requiring normal safety precautions are operated periodically. Toxic and flammable chemicals (lacquer, glue) are also used and require precautionary measures.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.