Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to the Required Documents below. Current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

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The Supervisory Recreation Therapist (RT) has full responsibility of overall program planning, implementation, coordination, control, review, and financial management of the Section, to meet the diverse patient population needs, interests, capabilities, and therapeutic objectives of VA Maine. The Supervisory Recreation Therapist serves programs across multiple types of interdisciplinary clinical practices. The incumbent is responsible for providing guidance and motivation, fostering acceptance and sound judgment concepts, practices, and innovations. The RT performs work which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities and demonstrates an advanced competency, which qualifies him/her to perform patient evaluations and treatment procedures independently on patients with a variety of complex diagnoses and disabilities.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provide clinical guidance to staff RTs within the department.
• Perform evaluations and assessments of Veterans in both the inpatient and outpatient population, to include specialized diagnostic tests and evaluations.
• Provide RT interventions for same population, serving as clinical specialist.
• Provide direction in all aspects of RT care, serving as mentor to other staff therapists in the clinic.
• Subject matter expert in areas of leisure and therapeutic recreation, provides consultation/education to staff, physicians, treatment teams, Veterans, and their families.
• Participate as an instructor in the facility's in-service clinical training.
• Review and analyze the effectiveness of treatments and develops new treatment programs which apply current research and evidence-based practice; Assists/encourages other RT staff in same.
• Independently develops relationships with community partners to expand RT opportunities for Maine Veterans.
• Build and maintain therapeutic and functional relationships with Voluntary Services department in the effort to fund and support RT opportunities for Maine Veterans.
• Assess and oversee appropriate volunteers to support RT programming.
• Independently solves complex problems, modifies treatment programs to meet needs of Veterans with complex disabilities, and assists other staff therapists in same process.

• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• 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).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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

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:

• United States 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)).

• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

• Experience and Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below.

• Certification: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired with a bachelors degree or higher in any field, certification cannot be waived.

• 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.