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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***
Duties include, but are not limited to:

Administers and Evaluates Progress of Recreation Therapy Programs:

• Plans, implements highly specialized and diversified treatment for patients whose physical and mental condition requires the application of nonstandard and standard treatment procedures and approaches.
• Provides interventions one on one and small group activities, both on and off station.
• Makes frequent and extensive changes in procedures and approaches if needed to enable the patient to overcome disabilities and continue treatment.
• Modifies programs and adjusts schedules based on patient care priorities and specific needs that arise on a daily basis.
• Works independently due to the varied work schedules and patient programming need.
• Maintains recreation therapy schedules and calendars in their work area.
• Determines which most are suited based on the individual patient needs.
• Adapts various treatment activities to meet the specific needs of individual patients.
• Coordinates escort of residents/patients to and from recreation therapy programs.
• Conducts independently recreation therapy programs at bedside, in the facility and in the community.

• Authors daily treatment notes in the patient medical record documenting the implementation and effects of the intervention such as but not limited to: identifying procedures provided, duration, frequency, outcome, progress/regress, goals, objectives, and response to recreation therapy treatment to provide the primary therapist and treatment team information needed to evaluate interventions and plan of care.
• Manages documents in the medical record recommended changes to patient treatment plan or changes in patient status/performance; note is reviewed by the therapist for general adequacy and for effectiveness in achieving objectives.
• Ensures documentation and procedures are completed in accordance with the Recreation Therapy Service policies and procedures and in compliance with The Long Term Care Institute (LTCI), The Joint Commission (TJC) and recreation therapy standards of practice.

• Assists recreation therapist with the planning and implementation of a wide variety of recreation therapy interventions to address patient treatment needs and treatment plans Therapeutic interventions may be complex due to the multiple disabilities encountered.
• Provides therapeutic programming for individuals and in the group setting.
• collaborates with the unit recreation therapist on implementing different interventions if current interventions are not producing results that are conducive to patient choice.
• Recognizes deviations in veteran's condition and takes appropriate action. The incumbent monitors patient's condition and records response to intervention, ensuring that this is made part of the permanent medical record.
• Administers the consult driven, individual, recreation therapy bedside program, exploring with assigned patients their interests, attitude, and motivation to participate in therapeutic interventions.

• Solicits support and involvement of volunteers in specialized programs.
• Follows up on activities involving these individuals or groups for confirmation, supplies needed and other details pertinent to the activity.
• Assists VAVS, civic and community groups providing support for recreation therapy programs and coordinates these programs in advance to make sure that they function without disruption. Provides support for special programs and assists with other collateral duties as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.
and
Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5 in the Federal service. 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. (Experience must be fully documented in your resume to receive credit. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.)
OR
Education: Successfully completed Six months (9 semester hours) of graduate education or an internship. Education/internship must be directly related to the position of a Therapy Assistant. (Transcript Required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.)
OR
Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualifications. (Transcript Required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.)

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

• Clinical Data Collection/Documentation
• Critical Thinking
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Interpersonal Skills
• Patient Care
• Technical Competence

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.