Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Recreation Therapist review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Based upon the assessment data, and in collaborations with other stakeholders, the therapist develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, durations, and treatment. They recommend adaptations, modifications, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. Through the use of activity/task analysis, behavioral interventions, and therapeutic procedures, the therapist designs individualized treatment interventions to include but not limited to: reduce stress, anxiety, and maladaptive behaviors; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community in a productive manner. Sophisticated techniques/strategies used to improve or support clinical outcomes: developing positive patterns of behavior; improving/managing mental health conditions; relaxation and stress reductions; lifestyle alterations; social skills training; developing or improving (enhancing) self-esteem; developing and maintaining positive relationships; motor learning and training strategies; anger and pain management; identify risks; recovery support lifestyle adjustment; conflict/problem resolution; adjustment to disability; and including coping with grief and loss.

• Evaluates the history, interests, aptitudes, and skills of patients by interviews, inventories, tests, and measurements.
• Uses finding and medical records or therapy orders to develop and implement therapeutic interventions and treatment plans.
• Conduct ongoing evaluations of therapy results and modify, redirect, adjust and/or augment treatment plans as indicated by patient's response to treatment or progress related to physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs, skills, aptitudes, abilities, and interests.
• Conducts assessments using effective interviewing techniques and assessment instruments to obtain objective and information pertaining to the Veterans interests, preferences, aptitudes, abilities, barriers, goals, and clinical needs.
• Develops individualized treatment plans with therapeutic goals and objectives to meet the assessed needs of the patient to restore, remediate and rehabilitate to improve functioning and independence.
• Coordinates the overall plan with the treatment team, the patient's and/or the patient's family or caregiver.
• Provides a diverse variation of therapy services as both adjunctive and primary therapy services.
• Serves on an interdisciplinary treatment team using professional knowledge and skills in the integration of recreation therapy into overall team treatment plans.
• Provides the necessary and/or adapted equipment, materials, instruction, supplies, encouragement, and motivation to successfully engage with each patient in the therapeutic process.
• Documents the treatment rendered and patients progress in the computerized patient medical record (CPRS) and discusses progress with the treatment team.
• Reviews patient progress and adapts or adjusts the treatment plan and intervention strategies accordingly.
• Schedules and conducts evening and weekend programming to support hospital wide and/or departmental objectives.
• Maintains departmental equipment, materials, resources, and space.
• Participates in the procurement of equipment and materials and may make recommendations for appropriate purchases.
• Gives lectures on various treatment techniques, provides on the job demonstrations of treatment interventions, discusses, and plans individual patient treatment with students and describes treatment results with patients.
• Provide clinical training supervision of student interns and may supervise recreation therapy assistants and volunteers.
• Plan and carry out a wide range of activities or events with varying levels of responsibility to the hospital community, affiliated groups or agencies and the community at large when appropriate.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Telework: Not Suitable
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 1 or 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:
English: proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 USC 7402(d), 404 (d).
Education:
(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). Transcripts Required.
--OR-
(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. Transcripts Required.

Certification: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under the (b) education paragraph above, certification cannot be waived. If certified as a CTRS, please provide a copy of certification at the time of application.

Exception to Certification - Graduate: Non-registered and/or certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation 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 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 uncertified recreation 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.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.

Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current recreation therapy practice. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation therapist in the health care field.

GS-7 Grade Requirements:
Experience or Education. Entry Level. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-9 Grade Requirements:
Specialized Experience or Education. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-7), or a master's degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreation therapist experience. Transcripts Required.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient.
2. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance.
3. Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process.
4. Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.

GS-11 Grade Requirements:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of creditable experience in the Recreation Therapist occupation at the next lower grade level (GS-9). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
6. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.

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

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and reoccurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting and repositioning patients; pushing and pulling heavy objects- including Veterans in wheelchairs, gurneys; leading or directing physical activities/ exercise. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapy procedures, as well as skill and ability in the therapist's respective discipline.

Work Environment: The work, which is performed in clinics, wards, offices, conference rooms, facility grounds and in the community; involves regular and reoccurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts that require special safety and health precautions (i.e. working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/ or flammable gases, and/or physical injury as the result of a patient's assaultive/ aggressive behavior that is secondary to a mental health diagnosis. The therapist may be required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection and to follow appropriate policies and procedures related to Infectious Disease and Standard Precautions.

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.