SummaryGeneral Description of Assigned Duties The Recreation Therapist (RT) Lead is within the PM&R service and involves evaluating patients and developing functional rehabilitation plans using various assessments and tools. Primary focus is direct patient care. Responsibilities cover all clinical areas (inpatient, outpatient, CLC, and other areas as assigned) within the medical center associated with PM&R services.
DutiesHelp
Major duties include but are not limited to:
Clinical:- Conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure)
- Incorporates the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered
- Constructs evidence based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues, such as polytrauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness (SMI), and hospice/palliative care requirements
- Provides comprehensive clinical services as well as ensuring that the work assignments of the other members of the clinical team are carried out
Educational:- Identifies their educational needs, stays updated on advances, and ensures care aligns with current research and practice
- Maintains an active license, provide in-services, attend educational offerings and conferences, and participate in mandatory training
- Supervises and develops training programs for students, volunteers, and aides, and providing clinical oversight for RT students
- Engages in relevant research activities and explains recreation programs to various stakeholders
Administrative:- Completes all patient care encounters using correct CPT and diagnosis codes, maintains inventory and orders supplies as needed, and follows departmental procedures for scheduling and patient check in/check-out.
- Ensures compliance with all national and local directives, guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Attends staff meetings, contributes ideas, and participates in program development, including creating and refining evaluation forms, consult templates, policies, and protocols
- Completes quality improvement activities and carries out other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.
W
ork Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM; Tour of duty based off organizational needs
Telework: May be available for (Ad-hoc) only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 654 FS 09051-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
RequirementsHelp
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..
- 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.
QualificationsApplicants 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:
a.
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)).
b.
Education: The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist, creative arts therapist (art), creative arts therapist (dance/movement), creative arts therapist (drama), and creative arts therapist (music):
- 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.
c.
Experience:- (a) Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level
- (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- i. Knowledge of recreation therapy across multiple types of clinical practice.
- ii. Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff therapists and guidance to auxiliary staff, volunteers, and trainees.
- iii. Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work and make adjustments to accomplish the workload, in accordance with established procedures.
- iv. Ability to facilitate program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. VA Handbook 5005/111 June 7, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G60 II-G60-14
- v. Ability to act as a liaison between staff, volunteers, or trainees, and serve as an immediate supervisor to resolve informal complaints and concerns.
- vi. Knowledge of procedures and policies to provide oversight and training for auxiliary staff, volunteers, and trainees.
- vii. Skill in coordinating clinical activities within the workgroup.
- viii. Skill in leading and directing staff to implement evidence-based recreation and/or creative arts therapy approaches to patients with varied treatment needs and skill level.
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).
Grade Determinations: For the GS-12 Lead RT, applicants must at least have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
EducationNote: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional informationReceiving Service Credit for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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