Clarification from the agency

This position is open to qualified applicants of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, Agency Employees and other HT38 employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties includes but are not limited to:

• Application of a knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of recreation/creative arts therapy, and the use of evidenced based recreational modalities to treat the physical, mental. emotional. and social needs of individual patients, groups of patients and families; maintain or rehabilitate patients' physical and/or mental health; or palliate symptoms related to terminal illness. The occupation requires the application of professional medical rehabilitative, therapeutic and palliative principles based on a medical prescription or a medical referral, and the integration of recreation therapy or creative arts therapy within the total health care plan for the patient.
• Responsible for coordinating, developing, implementing, and evaluating multiple rehabilitation program services provided by Recreation Therapy.
• Responsible for developing and implementing a quality improvement program to include risk management, customer satisfaction, infection control, and survey regulatory preparation using a systematic approach, which assures the overall quality of Recreation Therapy.
• Responsible for adherence to all provision of Equal Opportunity Program in accordance with Office of Personnel Management and Department of Veterans Affairs regulations and medical center guidelines.
• Responsible for developing and completing the hiring process in coordination with the service chief for PM&RS. The position is responsible for position facility leadership, creating all components of the recruitment packet for HR specialist to use for announcement, and conducting interviews. Incumbent is responsible for all new projects and budgeting within the Recreation Therapy Service. Incumbents manage all phases of team projects that involve a variety of disciplines.
• Coordinates the compilation of necessary monthly and quarterly statistical reports such as DSS and other significant reports as requested.
• Serves on special committees and tasks forces as designated by national VACO staff or the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
• Other duties assigned

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00AM- 4:30PM
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 26975-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 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

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: The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist
  • 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,
  • 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. Certification cannot be waived.

Grade Determinations:
GS-12
Experience: At least one year of creditable experience at the GS-11 grade level. Experience includes conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, the therapist constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues, such as polytrauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness (SMI), and hospice/palliative care requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to provide treatment in complex cases and work with great independence.
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Ability to use evidence-based practices, clinical practice guidelines in a professional area, and to guide the staff in applying these tools.
• Knowledge of organizational theories and strategies to positively impact the overall goals and objectives within the service.
• Knowledge related to administrative functions such as fiscal, material supply, equipment management, and clinical and program management.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires extensive walking, standing, bending, pushing, and carrying of light and heavy recreation equipment to many areas of the Medical Center and in organizing the physical environment for various recreation projects, activities, and special events.

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.