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Recreation Therapy Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Battle Creek VA Medical Center

Summary

The incumbent completes a preliminary review of specific patients being served, assists in compiling patient information and data, determining patient needs, and collaborates in the development, planning, and coordination of clinical therapeutic recreation programming for Veterans receiving services at the Battle Creek VAMC. They are responsible for carrying out a full range of Therapeutic Recreation Services inclusive of recreation treatment modalities and general recreation activities.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/16/2026 to 03/24/2026
Salary
$45,409 to - $59,031 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Battle Creek, MI
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You will be expected to travel for this position; transporting/escorting patients.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSR-12910336-26-CP
Control number
861231600

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Carrying out a full range of Therapeutic Recreation Services inclusive of recreation treatment modalities and general recreation (diversional) activities.
  • Working with patients who have a variety of illnesses, diseases and /or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment.
  • Works as an integral member of the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Section staff of Social Work Service, providing patient care bases on practical knowledge of the modalities used in therapeutic recreation.
  • Responsible for assisting in the development of specific activities and routines to maintain or improve patient's general state of physical and/or mental health.
  • Independently supervises on-station and off-station general (diversional) activity programs for diverse types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, neuromuscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS; amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, head injury, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, and patients with multiple diagnoses.
  • Strives to lessen mental and physical deterioration, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability and provides feedback to the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Program Manager, designee, and/or other team members as appropriate.
  • Works with Recreation Therapists in selecting, adapting, and/or adjusting recreation therapy modalities in accordance with treatment goals.
  • May independently modify techniques and develop innovative approach as necessary to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals are met in non-complex cases.
  • Transports and/or escorts patients in support of community re-integration programs, provides instruction on expectations and observes patient for unpredictable behavior. Physically assists those in need of assistance in getting into and out of the vehicles.
  • Assists in maintaining the leisure activity areas, offices, outdoor activity areas by performing periodic on-site inspections and reporting any problems i.e., confidence course, pavilion, etc.
  • Completes medical record documentation, specific to clinical programming, according to VHA, Joint Commission Accreditation Healthcare Organizations, CARF and Recreation Therapy guidelines.
  • Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing recreational activities in assigned program area from the standpoint of participant response, resources, unforeseen developments and program objectives.
  • Solicits support and involvement of volunteers in specialized treatment programs. Follows up on activities involving these individuals or groups for confirmation, supplies needed and other details pertinent to the activity.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Possession of a current, valid lifeguard certification is preferred.

Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm or Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm. One shift per week may be an evening shift; based on the needs of the service
Position Description/PD#: Recreation Therapy Assistant/PD91645A

Requirements

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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
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • Current, valid US driver's license
  • Required to complete a driver physical evaluation
  • Must provide a copy of your current, safe driving record
  • 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.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/24/2026.

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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.


You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Practical knowledge of procedures and techniques of Therapeutic Recreation Services; Knowledge of basic medical terminology; Practical knowledge of human body and psychology; Knowledge of proper use of adapted equipment such as wheelchair bus, walker, wheelchair, adaptive sports/activity equipment; Basic skill and ability to persuade geriatric, psychiatric, PTSD, substance abuse, stroke, AIDS, cardiac and other patients with special problems to participate in general social and recreational activities; Knowledge of lifeguard duties and certification as a lifeguard; Knowledge of gym equipment functions and safety requirements.OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed at least 9 semester hours of graduate education directly related to the work of the position, for example: occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

Physical Requirements: In many assignments, the work involves regular and recurring physical exertion, such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment, pushing wheelchairs, positioning severely disabled patients, transferring from bed to wheelchair and assisting patients in ambulation. The work requires specific common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity. The position requires physical fitness and swimming skills necessary to maintain certification as a Lifeguard.

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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.

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