Clarification from the agency

1st Area of Consideration - Current, permanent VA Employees. 2nd Area of Consideration - Current, permanent Federal Employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluates, establishes goals based on evaluation findings, and develops treatment interventions.
• Implements and modifies as necessary treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimum outcomes.
• Documentation of patient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports as needed.
• Utilize Recreation Therapy expertise for direct service delivery to patients. Acts as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and other healthcare professionals.
• Serves as Recreation Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed.
• Educate as required in consultation with patients, their families, and caregivers, regarding treatment interventions and goals, and any consideration involving adaptations to better ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
• Demonstrates ability and competency in treating patients that range in age from young adult to geriatric who may experience complex medical or mental health issues.
• Promotes effective communication with all patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff and community partners.
• Maintains professional competence through participation in appropriate educational activities.
• Assists in teaching and providing learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns as required.
• Participates in staff orientation, successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandatory trainings, and in-service activities.
• Delivers treatment in compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) accrediting agencies and VHA directives.

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.
• 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.

• 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.

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 (Transcripts with education conferral date may be requested):
  • (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);

• (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: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived. COPY OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
  • 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.

• Experience: At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level, (GS-9), is required. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current professional recreation or creative arts therapy practices. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation or creative arts therapist in the health care field.
  • Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Conducting patient evaluations. Analyzing and interpreting leisure, cognitive, and motor skill assessment data to develop individualized goals, objectives, and treatment plans of care. Developing and selecting interventions to achieve patient goals. Reviewing patient progress and adapting or adjusting treatment plans and intervention strategies as needed. Implementing therapeutic interventions that support measurable functional outcomes (interventions include, but are not limited to leisure education, reality orientation, memory, and gross motor activities). Evaluating patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services. Documenting patient behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes. Developing and providing collaborative services with other team members.

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.

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, 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.