This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/577726600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Recreation Therapist performs a wide variety of interventions which contribute to the overall health of Veterans. The work requires professional knowledge of recreation therapy, and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of recreation therapy and to treat the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of individual patients, groups of patients, and families; and to maintain or rehabilitate patients' physical and/or mental health.
09/01/2020 to 09/16/2020
$64,009 - $83,210 per year
GS 11
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Excepted
None
No
No
CAZJ-10894656-20-YMT
577726600
The Recreation Therapist assigned to PRRC-CORE and the MHICM Program serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. The Recreation Therapist serves veterans who are receiving services from specialty mental health service programs designed for veterans with serious mental illness, including those who are dually diagnosed with serious mental illness and a substance use disorder. The majority of the services provided are in a group format. Services are provided in the service areas on site for PRRC-CORE and MHICM and also in a variety of community settings offsite. The Recreation Therapist in this position coordinates with team members from both PRRC-CORE and from MHICM and regularly attends staff meetings to coordinate care with referring providers. When needed or when assigned, the Recreation Therapist will meet individually with veterans to complete a Recreation Therapy assessment. This formalized assessment occurs when needed to help identify specific recreation-related modalities that may help the veteran progress toward goals related to recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. The assessment is useful to the treatment planning process, and the Recreation Therapist will collaborate with the primary clinician assigned to the veteran regarding the assessment, treatment planning, and follow-up. Together with the veteran, the Recreation Therapist will develop individualized plans with therapeutic goals and objectives to address the veteran's problems and rehabilitation goals. These plans will integrate specialized recreation therapy techniques with the total care/treatment plan for the veteran. The clinical interventions developed will be consistent with the Recreation Therapist's professional scope of practice, standards of care, and professional ethics.
The Recreation Therapist provides the necessary adapted equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, and motivation to successfully engage with each veteran in the therapeutic process. The Recreation Therapist uses proper judgment in determining specialized approaches and appropriate therapeutic modalities. The Recreation Therapist manages difficult cases and may counsel veterans on the benefits of a positive leisure and recreational lifestyle, coping skills, social interaction skills, and community resources and services. The Recreation Therapist will remain current as to best practice and evidence-based therapeutic techniques and interventions and skillfully apply same. The Recreation Therapist will also communicate with and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the interdisciplinary treatment process. The Recreation Therapist documents behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes for all individual, family, and group interactions. The Recreation Therapist regularly reviews veterans' progress and adapts or modifies the treatment plan and intervention strategies accordingly. The Recreation Therapist must maintain a valid Driver's License and must report any accidents or traffic violations to the Mental Health Supervisor, regardless of whether occurring in the scope of employment. The Recreation Therapist must be able and willing to transport veterans in the programs served in a government vehicle as needed.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00am - 4:30pm)
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
IMPORTANT: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
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.
If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/16/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10894656.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/16/2020 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10894656.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/577726600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?