The position is located at the VA Medical Center within the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service whose mission is to provide outstanding interdisciplinary patient centered care at a level that exceeds the expectation of and honors the service of Veterans. This is position entails service within the Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) service line which includes the sections of Home Based Primary Care with the Medical Foster Home Program, Palliative Hospice Care and the Geriatric Evaluation Clinic

Duties

A unique and major clinical function of the position is in the Medical Foster Home (MFH) Care program; the Recreation Therapist functions as an independent clinical practitioner providing comprehensive Therapeutic Recreation specialty rehabilitation services to Veteran patients and their MFH caregivers in a residential care home. This position function within the MFH program and collaborates with program staff and guides and directs patient treatment to assist the Veteran to obtain optimal levels of functioning while maintaining independence in the community. Most of the Veterans within this program have chronic diseases or long term disabilities. The goal is to foster functional independence and improved quality of life within the home environment. Recreation Therapists provide opportunities for clients with long term disability to maintain some focus of control within their environments. The program is specifically designed to address needs of the patients with geriatric and chronic diseases, ensuring a full range of rehabilitation services for individuals with complex cognitive, physical, and mental health issues. When not providing services within the Medical Foster Home program, the incumbent will work independently and develop, implement and evaluate a therapeutic program within the framework of the specific area that the therapist is assigned by the Chief, of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC). The position encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. The incumbent demonstrates competency, which qualifies him/her to perform patient evaluations and treatment procedures on patients with a variety of complex diagnoses and disabilities. The incumbent has skills in program development and administrative aspects of patient treatment and has knowledge and ability in diversified recreation therapy treatment services. The incumbent is responsible for developing, organizing and administering recreation therapy programs to provide therapeutic interventions to patients. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Patient Focus: The therapist respects all Veterans, their caregivers and extended families by exhibiting sensitivity to their needs, tolerance, and individual differences including values, social backgrounds and ethnic groups. The therapist effectively uses professional skills, objectively, and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions. The therapist communicates confidence in the patient's ability and facilitates therapeutic process and progress. The therapist maintains appropriate professional boundaries and provides appropriate recognition for growth. Assessment: The therapist serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment. The therapist conducts assessments using effective interviewing techniques and assessment instruments to obtain objectives and information pertaining to the Veteran's interests, preferences, aptitudes, abilities, and clinical needs in recreation therapy. The therapist scores, evaluates, and interprets the assessment data and communicates the findings to the multi-disciplinary team. Plans Effective Treatment: Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team recommending treatment objectives. Plans various activities directed towards achieving such therapeutic objectives such as diminishing emotional stress, providing a sense of achievement, channeling energies and interests, aiding physical and mental rehabilitation, and promoting successful community re-entry. Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team to establish new programs or activities to meet a wide range of activities with other services in the development of appropriate patient treatment programs. Modifies techniques and develops new approaches to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals. Develops criteria for the Recreation Therapy service's quality management program in Medical Foster Care. Evaluates planning practices and processes and facilitates improvement. Approves treatment plans with unusual or unique treatment objectives or activities. Develops and Provides Effective Clinical Interventions: The therapist develops and provides effective clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care, and Professional Ethics. The therapist provides the necessary and/or adapted equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, and motivation to successfully engage with each patient in the therapeutic process. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 3. 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); 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. 4. Certification: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). *If hired under education option (b), certification cannot be waived. Exception. Non-registered and/or non-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 and creative arts 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 unregistered and/or uncertified recreation or creative arts 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. Loss of Credential: A recreation or creative arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registration and/or certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision: 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: Recreation Therapist GS-7 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements above. GS-9 Experience/Education: At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreation therapist experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient. ii. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance. iii. Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process. iv. Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. GS-11 Experience: At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. 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. ii. 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. iii. 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. iv. 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. v. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. vi. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. Preferred Experience: Experience in care Management; independent decision making. References: VA Handbook 5005/111, PART II, APPENDIX G60. RECREATION AND CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0638, Veterans Health Administration, dated June 7, 2019. 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 recurring 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 or pulling heavy objects; leading or directing physical 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 creative arts discipline.

Education

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

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 Las Vegas VA Medical Center 6900 North Pecos Road North Las Vegas, NV 89086 US
• Name: Rolane Jack
• Phone: 808-835-9634
• Email: [email protected]