The Supervisory Recreation Therapist has the full authority and responsibility to administer the Recreation Therapy operations at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The incumbent has full administrative oversight for planning and directing the staff assignments in a variety of clinical settings. They have responsibility for general or technical supervision of key clinical and training programs.

Duties

Typical duties include: assigning work, monitoring clinical performances of staff, resolving staff conflicts which may interfere with the delivery of services, identifying continuing education and training needs, preparing performance standards and ratings, interviewing candidates for positions, and recommending appointments, advancements, or administering disciplinary actions, when appropriate. Incumbent will ensure compliance with the accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, establish and monitor the quality of the processes, and assessment of assigned staff. The supervisor develops policies and procedures, develops performance standards, position descriptions, and functional statements and is responsible for professional and administrative management of Recreation Therapy staff. Clinical: Provide treatment in complex cases and work with great independence. Balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. 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. 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. Administration: Provides daily clinical supervision for recreation and creative arts therapists. Ensures staff supervised are planning and implementing treatment while evaluating staffs performance. Intervenes when a higher level is needed to address veterans care. The work includes monitoring the support of community resources, partnerships and effective use of fee basis employees, students, interns, and volunteers for the delivery of care. Provides treatment in complex cases with independence. Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures, adhering to Medical Center ADP Security policy. Participates in the evaluation of equipment and supplies, which affect their service delivery. Fosters and maintains a safe treatment area. Promotes effective communication with all patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff and community partners. Education: Maintains professional competence through participation in appropriate educational activities. Assists in teaching and providing learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns, as required. Participates in staff orientation, successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandatory trainings, and in-service activities. Deliver treatment in compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) accrediting agencies and VHA directives. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-12. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (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 must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Certification. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Certification cannot be waived. Grandfathering Provision. Applicants 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: In addition to the basic and education requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: GS-12 Supervisory Recreation Therapist. Applicants at the GS-12 grade level must possess: Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-11): administering and interpreting recreation therapy assessments and utilizing clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information, conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure); incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, constructing evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues; providing direct patient care and receiving guidance from higher-level supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and requiring only general supervision; reviewing recreation therapy consults and conducting comprehensive evaluations; developing individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration, and treatment, recommend adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy; designing individualized treatment interventions 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; providing individualized, unique, effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to assistive technology, cognitive behavioral skills, aquatic therapy, fitness and wellness, community accessibility/reintegration/transition, and adapted sports and leisure development; evaluating patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services; determining the effectiveness of protocols, modalities, and programs for targeted groups through quantitative analysis and identifying potential risks and needs for adaptive interventions to facilitate improved biopsychosocial well-being; and participating in co-treatment opportunities, including but not limited to: neurological rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs, and palliative care related to the symptoms of a terminal illness. Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associated with current professional recreation or creative arts therapy practices. Evidence of such experience includes private practice, U.S. military services, local/state/federal government organizations, for profit/non-profit organizations, health care, or educational facilities. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to the next lower grade level. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation or creative arts therapist. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/111 Part II Appendix G60 Physical Requirements: Physical requirements may include: heavy lifting (45 pounds and over); heavy carrying (45 pounds and over); pushing; use of fingers; walking (up to eight hours); standing (up to eight hours); repeated bending; kneeling; near vision correctable at 13 to 16 inches to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades or colors; and hearing (aid permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Education. Candidates must meet at least one of the following education requirements below:

1. 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,
2. 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.

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.

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.

Contacts

• Address Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Steven Ton
• Phone: 909-683-4072
• Email: [email protected]