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Recreation Therapist - Whole Health Program Manager

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Coatesville VA Medical Center Whole Health (WH) Program Manager has full responsibility for strategic planning, development, managing, administering and evaluating all aspects of the local initiative to support the health and well-being of the Veteran population and the employees who care for them.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
12/29/2021 to 01/18/2022
Salary
$86,706 to - $112,721 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Coatesville, PA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11338776-22-KTP
Control number
628996900

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Duties

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The Whole Health Program Manager leads an interdisciplinary team who is responsible for all levels of the facility Whole Health program, both for Veterans and employees. The Whole Health Program Manager has the ultimate responsibility for planning the local Whole Health program based on the national guidance provided in by the Office of Patient Centered Care (OPCC). The expectation is that the Whole Health Program Manager will address Whole Health issues for Veterans and staff throughout the medical center. The Program Manager has overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by whole health and overall delivery of healthcare within the facility.

Program Planning and Management:
- Full responsibility for managing and may supervise all phases of the Whole Health Program at the Coatesville VAMC
- Establishes and maintains a continuous and systematic process of curriculum development, assessment, review, revision, evaluation and implementation of the Whole Health program.
- Plans and develops policies, procedures and goals, and implements and educates staff on applicable VHA directives, handbooks, or other policies.
- Assures local compliance to the OPCC.
- Tracks data as it relates to Whole Health in the facility.
- Coordinates with the multidisciplinary team to develop local goals. Measures progress toward the goals and reports to the appropriate officials at a local, VISN and national level.
- Serves as the professional and technical advisor in the area of Whole Health for the facility.
- Promotes whole health principles to facility employees.
- Participates in agency operational or planning meetings, public briefings, or other formal or informal settings to publicize Whole Health program accomplishments and to solicit resources or other forms of support and cooperation necessary to ensure program success.
- Utilizes effective written and oral communication skills to promote and maintain effective working relationships with all faculty and significant parties at the national, state and local level.
- Provides direct budgetary supervision of WH programs, and direct Supervisor of WH hired staff. This includes oversite of Volunteers. staff who are detailed from other Services will be supervised by staff in their respective Care line.
- Direct or participate in the design of studies, collect data, conduct statistical analysis, interpret findings, and translate results into written and oral communications.
- Set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions.
- Serves as a consultant with facility health care staff in evaluating health care delivery to Veterans and employees. Oversees development of WH messages and develops or recommends training to staff. This may include developing Scope of Practice, or competencies.
- Manages (plan, organize, delegate, direct, control, review) activities of the program and groups of subordinates.
- Participates or leads professional organizations and meetings at the local, VISN or VACO level or similar.
- Maintains professional contact with Health Lifestyle Coordinators, Employee Health, Health Behavior Coordinator, MyHealtheVet, Pain, Rehabilitation and Recreational Therapy programs that support Wellness initiatives.
- Guides the infrastructure for documentation in the medical record, stop codes, clinic steps and grids and CHAR codes that conform to guidelines, and reviews education materials for appropriateness.

Quality:
- Maintains up-to-date program information accessible through web sites. Develops materials for the medical center intranet site as it relates to Whole Health for Veterans and staff.
- Develops, maintains, and supervises a system of internal reviews and direct quality control and performance improvement studies to assure compliance with various accrediting, regulatory, and agency authorities.
- Administer and monitor the program, evaluate program outcomes/accomplishments, set and redefine priorities, and implement effective solutions in processes/systems as needed.

Clinical Duties:
- Counsels Veterans to promote health and wellness as needed.
- Teach Whole Health classes as needed.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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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
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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.
  • Education: 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: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC.
  • English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoke and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Grade Determinations:
In addition to the Basic Requirements above, you must meet the following GS-12 Grade Determination:

Experience:
At least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of management/administration principles, procedures, and practice, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, mediation, and monitoring.
  • Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within services.
  • Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties when authorized, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions when appropriate.
  • Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate program quality to ensure that methods, deadlines, and standards have been met, and prioritize the workload.
  • Ability to effectively communicate goals, objectives, and focused initiatives to an interdisciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subsection, as well as guide the team members on work methods, practices, standards, and procedures.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements, interdisciplinary structure, and organizational structure to serve as a liaison between specialty care and other programs that would affect coordination of care, healthcare access, program evaluation, assessment, and planning future needs.
  • Skill in employing recognized leadership and managerial methods and strategies, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in the management of employees, team leaders, and managers.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G60

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting/carrying (45 pounds and over), moderate lifting/carrying (15-44 pounds), light lifting/carrying (under 15 pounds), straight pulling (2 hours), pushing (3 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, (walking 3 hours), Standing (3 hours), repeated bending (1 hour), climbing, use of legs & arms, Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), and Mental and emotional stability.

Education

IMPORTANT: A legible 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.

Additional information

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.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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, résumé, 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.

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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