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Recreation Therapist

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

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Recreation Therapist. The Recreation Therapist will function in Recreation Therapy Service.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/01/2022 to 07/21/2022
Salary
$46,685 to - $89,815 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
Cleveland, OH
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
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
CBSR-11521645-22-EP
Control number
663260500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens

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Duties

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The following duties are performed:

  • Performs the work of a recreation therapist, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities.
  • Demonstrates an advanced competency, which qualifies him/her to perform evaluations and treatment procedures independently on patients with a variety of medically complex diagnoses, disabilities, and impairments.
  • Skills in program development and administrative aspects of patient treatment and has knowledge and ability in diversified recreation therapy treatment services.
  • Responsible for developing, organizing and administering recreation therapy programs providing therapeutic interventions to patients on the various programs: Amputee Specialty Program, Neurology/Polytrauma, Blind Rehab Program, Center for Homeless Care (DOM), Geriatrics & Extended Care, Rehabilitation Medicine, Geri Rehabilitation, Orthopedic, Rheumatology, Cardiology, Pain, Respiratory, Medical Intensive Care, Surgical Intensive Care, Psychiatry, Comprehensive Day Treatment, Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Residential Rehabilitation Programs Substance Abuse Program, Opioid Treatment Program, Detox, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Residential Programs, Home Based Primary Care Medical Foster Care, Ambulatory Care, Telehealth, Whole Health, MOVE, as well as other designated medical center clinics, wards or units, and CBOC's.
Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM, 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM, rotating weekends, holidays
Telework: No
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Recreation Therapist/PD93702ARelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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

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:

Citizenship: Citizen of the United States (U.S.). (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)).

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, in music therapy, or in music with an emphasis in music therapy. The degree must be approved by the National Association for Schools of Music and/or the American Music Therapy Association. OR Bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, and must be a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.

  • Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
Certification: current certification as a CTRS by the NCTRC.. If hired under paragraph 3b(5)(b), certification cannot be waived.

English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard(June 7, 2019), are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
  1. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  2. Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
  4. Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements, in effect at the time of reentry, as a recreation or creative arts therapist.
Grade Determinations:

GS-7: None beyond the basic requirements

GS-9: Master's degree in Recreation Therapy. One(1) year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-07), demonstrating the following:
  • Knowledge of recreation therapy and work with guidance from higher level or supervisory staff to establish treatment procedures that are substantially adapted and applied for patients who are acutely ill.
  • Conduct patient evaluations. Analyze and interpret leisure, cognitive, and motor skill assessment data to develop individualized goals, objectives, and treatment plan of care.
  • Develop and select interventions to achieve patient goals.
  • Review patient progress.
  • Adapt or adjust the treatment plan and intervention strategies.
  • Implement therapeutic interventions that support measurable functional outcomes (interventions include, but are not limited to leisure education, reality orientation, memory, and gross motor activities).
  • Evaluate patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services.
  • Document patient's behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes.
  • Develop and provide collaborative services with other team members.
GS-11: One(1) year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-09), demonstrating the following:
  • Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report evaluation data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure).
  • Improve or support clinical outcomes may include but are not limited to: develop positive patterns of behavior; relaxation and stress reduction; lifestyle alteration; social skills training; develop self-esteem; reinforce positive relationships; motor learning and training strategies; anger and pain management; identify risks; recovery support; lifestyle adjustment; conflict/problem resolution; adjustment to disability, including coping with grief and loss.
  • Exercises resourcefulness in providing individualized, unique effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions including but not limited to: assistive technology; cognitive behavioral skills; aquatic therapy; wellness, prevention, and recovery; adapted sports and leisure development, community accessibility/reintegration/transition.
  • Implements and modifies treatment plan and goals compatible to patient functional capacity as necessary to assure optimum outcome.
  • Assist in the developing, planning, and implementing of new programs which apply to current evidenced based care.
  • Perform documentation of patient care, including progress notes, daily attendance/encounters, and reports (monthly, safety, and others), as needed.
  • Assist the Supervisor in planning and developing various treatment programs to meet patient needs.
  • Demonstrate competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills and completion of all patient care documentation, encounters, and scheduling according to VA, facility, policies, guideline, and standards.
  • Complete all statistical and administrative reports according to Recreation Therapy Service and Medical Center Policies.
  • Compile and maintain statistical records and information for the completion of required reports.
  • Identify & recommend solutions to supervisor for problems, such as budget, reporting procedures, safety, time management, student assignments, & utilization of resources, such as support personnel and/or volunteers.
  • Provides input to the Supervisor on equipment and personnel needs in recreation therapy.
  • Incorporating the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, the therapist constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues such as but not limited to: Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/ Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; Hospice/Palliative Care, CVA, and SCI.
  • Provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision.
  • Review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations.
References: VA Handbook 5005/111 June 7, 2019, PART II, APPENDIX G60, II-G60-4.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of to GS-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

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.

Additional information

Certification: CTRS by the NCTRC.

Exception: Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified.

Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification: In all cases, recreation and creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration and/or certification requirements, starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registration/certification, the date by which the registration and/or certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreation and creative arts therapist occupation, and may result in termination of employment.

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.

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.

Pandemic Telework Program: Due to COVID-19, the VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. [Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable.] At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position. 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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