This position is located in Community Living Center of the Inpatient Geriatric Services Department of the Nursing Services Directorate. In cooperation with and under the direction and guidance of the assigned Recreation Therapist, plans and implements a variety of Recreation Therapy modalities, making frequent and comprehensive changes in procedures and modalities to assist the patient in overcoming social/emotional and physical disabilities.

Duties

Duties include and are not limited to: Cooperation with and under the direction and guidance of the assigned Recreation Therapist, plans and implements a variety of Recreation Therapy modalities; working together in planning and coordinating activities and community outings for their veterans. The Recreation Therapist will provide direction and guidance to the Assistant concerning the best ways to implement these programs. One of the primary duties of Recreation Therapy Assistant is to help the Recreation Therapist in providing quality patient care on the units they are assigned. The Recreation Therapist maintains overall responsibility for the programs and services delivered by Recreation Therapy Assistants. Provides routine and complex procedures to facilitate the achievement of individual goals for patients. Works with different diagnostic categories to include Dementia, Psychiatric Disorders, Stroke, Amputations, and a wide range of neurological disorders including paralysis. Works with orthopedic patients, cancer patients, Alzheimer patients, general medical and surgical patients, substance abuse patients, and other classes of patients found in the extended care wards. Also, Utilizes a wide range of treatment modalities; including: music therapy, leisure counseling and education, adapted sports and games, movement therapy, and art therapy. Provides exposure to a variety of cultural, artistic, and educational events, both on and off-station. Provides data to the team on the patient's response and progress. Participates in clinical conferences, staff meetings, team meetings, and other multidisciplinary meetings. Assists the therapist to provide technical instructions and supervision to students, temporary employees, and volunteers on the proper methods of delivering clinical services Prepares reports, statistical summaries, patient attendance rosters, patient schedules (i.e. individual and wall calendars) and other required written summaries. Responsible for routine duties such as ordering/purchasing of supplies, stocking of storage and kitchen areas, and keeping these areas well organized, clean, and inventoried. Ensures that patients are safe and that the immediate environment does not present a health risk in any way to the patient, including patient transportation on and off - station to and from activities. Maintains and monitors recreation activity rooms, kitchens, and outdoor facilities. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday 9:00-5:30, one shift being PM 10-6:30 p.m. With rotating holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Therapy Assistant/PD02656A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. One year of experience is required with the knowledge and skills necessary to complete these duties are stated below: (Describe your skill on your resume/CV) -Have an understanding of disability and dysfunction. Understand the principles and techniques of clinically assessing patient need for Recreation Therapy interventions. Ability to develop suitable recreational and leisure programs to facilitate the patient's return to optimal health. (These skills are obtained either through education, or experience or a combination thereof, document this on your resume). - The employee must be familiar with the operation of equipment to include: computers, TV/DVD, iPads, sound equipment, golf, garden, and outdoor game equipment, bingo machine, kitchen equipment.- Have the ability to drive vehicles up to a 15-passenger van. - Familiarity of software and related programs to include MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Caribou, MDS, DSS, VATAS, TMS, etc. - Compliance with requirements to protect sensitive information under the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974, the HIPAA implementation, effective April 14, 2003 and other applicable laws and regulations. -Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that incumbent access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the incumbent requires to perform their duties. Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Special experience is required for this position: Qualifying specialized experience include work as an assistant to one of the specialized therapies such as occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy; or experience gained as an assistant or aid in patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)LearningPatient CareRisk Management 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is physically active and requires walking, standing, lifting, pushing, and driving of vehicles. Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Straight pulling (1.5 hours), Pulling handover hand (2.5 hours), Pushing (2.5 hours), Reaching abo e shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (2.5 hours), Standing (4 hours), Crawling (0.75 hours), Kneeling (0.75 hours), Repeated bending (3.5 hours), Climbing legs only (0.5 hour), Both legs required, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.


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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Lisa Maddox
• Email: [email protected]