Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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• Responsible for the Recreation Therapy program management for patients with severe disabilities on the designated medical center clinics, wards, units, programs as assigned by the Section Chief, Recreation Therapy. The recreation therapist plans, programs and carries out a full range of treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and the procedures require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge.
• Incumbent works with patients who have a variety of illness, diseases, and/or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment. Makes adaptations to activities or equipment to facilitate full performance participation where possible. Adheres to hospital policies and provides needed supervision to ensure patient safety.
• Assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy prescription, and conducts mental and physical evaluation of patient in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. Develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, and patients with multiple diagnoses.
• The incumbent strives to prevent mental and physical deterioration and/or decline, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability.
• Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Unusual tact and skill are necessary to the success of the rehabilitation process. The therapist handles difficult cases involving patients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other severe medical complications which may require unconventional approaches to treatment .
• Interprets and administers physician's recreation therapy prescription, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient.
• Administers therapeutic recreation activities that strengthen and condition debilitated muscles resulting from an assortment of illness, diseases or injury types, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke fractures, wound care, and joint replacement.
• Helps prepare veterans for independent leisure function by teaching adaptive sports skills, encourages and helps facilitate involvement in adaptive sports, and facilitates participation in VA National Events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the Golden Age Games. Facilitates Whole-Health modalities both in live classes and via TeleHealth.
• The recreation therapist plans, programs and carries out a full range of treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and the procedures require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge.
• Assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy prescription, and conducts mental and physical evaluation of patient in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. Develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, head injury, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and patients with multiple diagnoses.
• The incumbent strives to prevent mental and physical deterioration and/or decline, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability.
• Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered.
• Interprets and administers physician's recreation therapy prescription, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient.
• Administers therapeutic recreation activities that strengthen and condition debilitated muscles resulting from an assortment of illness, diseases or injury types, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke fractures, wound care, and joint replacement.
• Helps prepare veterans for independent leisure function by teaching adaptive sports skills, encourages and helps facilitate involvement in adaptive sports, and facilitates participation in VA National Events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the Golden Age Games. Facilitates Whole-Health modalities both in live classes and via TeleHealth.

Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday or Tuesday-Saturday from 8:00Am to 4:30 PM
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:41571F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.

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

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and or Experience Combination; In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess: (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.
• 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. Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level.
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified. 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.

Preferred Experience includes experience providing recreation therapy treatment services to inpatients or outpatients with chronic pain.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

Recreation Therapist, GS-7:
Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Recreation Therapist, GS-9:
Experience/Education. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreation therapist experience. Examples of experience may include but not limited to: Conducting patient evaluations; analyze and interpret leisure, cognitive, and motor skill assessment data to develop individualized goals, objectives, and treatment plan of care; develop and select interventions to achieve patient goals; review patient progress; adapt or adjust the treatment plan and intervention strategies; implement therapeutic interventions that support measurable functional outcomes (interventions include, but are not limited to leisure education, reality orientation, memory, and gross motor activities); evaluate patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services; document patient's behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes; and provide collaborative services with other team members. This work is completed under general supervision.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient.
• Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance.
• Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process. Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic technique and interventions.

Recreation Therapist, GS-11:
Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Examples of experience may include but not limited to: Providing independent judgment to administer and interpret recreation therapy assessments and utilize clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information; Conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure); Reviewing recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations; Developing individualized treatment plans with therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration, and treatment; Recommending adaptation, modification, or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy; and Developing strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, APPENDIX G60, Recreation and Creative Arts Therapist Qualification Standard

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade range at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Recreation Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" work. Medium Work entails: exerting 20 - 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (i.e.: more than exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.)

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred to in the following order:
1.Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2.All other VA employees.
3.Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4.All other applicants.

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

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.

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.