The Supervisory Recreation Therapist carries responsibility for independently providing recreation therapy (RT) evaluation and treatment to veteran patients according to the North Florida/South Georgia VHS (NF /SG VHS) mission and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation guidelines. The incumbent at this grade level serves as RT Supervisor at above the full performance level providing assessment and treatment interventions for the most complex patient care needs.

Duties

The Supervisory Recreation Therapist is a subject matter expert in RT and provides guidance for specialist RTs, full performance, and entry-level RT staff members. The supervisory RT at this level practices autonomously and serves in a dual clinical and supervisory role. The Supervisory RT will provide coverage of the services provided by Recreation Therapy throughout the NF/SG medical center and coordinated off-site locations in the Acute Care, Outpatient, Telehealth, and Extended Care Settings as needed. He/she works effectively with patients, families, care partners, and treatment team members. The incumbent supervises staff within the Recreation Therapy Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. The section may include the following positions: Recreation Therapists and Creative Arts Therapists, to include Art, Dance/Movement, and Music Therapists (grades GS-0638-07 to GS0638-12) and Recreation Therapy Assistants (GS-0188-06). The incumbent is responsible for all supervisory duties under their purview including hiring, disciplinary actions, and all other HR functions within the team. The incumbent also functions and has coverage responsibilities for the other PMRS supervisory-duties as necessary, such as approving leave and certifying timesheets. Typical duties may include but are not limited to: Assigning work, monitoring clinical performances of staff, resolving staff conflicts which may interfere with the delivery of services, identifying continuing education and training needs, and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center is satisfied. Conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports 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, the therapist constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues, such as polytrauma, traumatic brain injury (TB[), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness (SMI), medical-fitness, aquatic therapy, Whole-Telehealth, and hospice/palliative care requirements. Incumbent provides direct patient care working within the spectrum of complexity of patients from routine to the most complex patients. The RT reviews recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Based upon the assessment data, and in collaboration with other stakeholders, the therapist develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration, and treatment. He/she recommends adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. The incumbent interviews candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions and makes decisions that affect staff and other resources with wide latitude of control and independent judgment. The supervisor accepts, amends, or rejects completed work and ensures that performance requirements are met. The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall service's quality management program and assures corrective action is initiated, as needed. The supervisor encourages professional development and creates an environment of learning, serving as a mentor to staff. The incumbent develops policies and procedures, manage document control, develop and rate performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements and are responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, and time and attendance management. The supervisor conducts department meetings at regular intervals to convey information to staff. The supervisor maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals and may provide clinical treatment in complex cases. The supervisor fosters and maintains community contacts that augment and enhance service goals. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Available per Agency policy and Service Approval on an Ad hoc basis. Functional Statement #: PD51844F 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: 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 must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Certification. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived. Grade Determinations: Recreation Therapist, GS-13 Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-12). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. a) Ability to provide treatment in complex cases and work with great independence. b) Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions. c) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and use data to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the service. d) Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers, to include conflict management. e) Ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools. f) Knowledge of organizational theories and strategies to positively impact the overall goals and objectives within the service. g) Knowledge related to administrative functions, such as fiscal, material supply, equipment management, and clinical and program management. Assignment. For all assignments above the full-performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisors at this level are in complexity level 1 facilities, or in facilities of lessor complexity levels where there are large affiliate network recreation therapy and/or creative arts therapy programs. Supervisors are responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of program services. They develop and initiate new treatment programs based upon current research findings. They evaluate programs to ensure proper coordination with the overall delivery of health care. The incumbent may be delegated full administrative and clinical responsibility for planning and directing staff assignments in a variety of clinical settings. They have responsibility for general or technical supervision of key clinical and training programs. 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, and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center is satisfied. They interview candidates for positions, recommend appointments, advancements, or when appropriate, disciplinary actions. They make decisions that affect staff and other resources with wide latitude of control and independent judgment. The supervisor accepts, amends, or rejects completed work and ensures that performance requirements are met. The supervisor ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, establishes and monitors the quality of the pre-analytical processes as part of the overall service's quality management program and assures corrective action is initiated, as needed. The supervisor encourages professional development and creates an environment of learning, serving as a mentor to staff. They develop policies and procedures, manage document control, develop and rate performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements and are responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area, to include budget execution, and time and attendance management. The supervisor conducts department meetings at regular intervals to convey information to staff. The supervisor maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals and may provide clinical treatment in complex cases. The supervisor fosters and maintains community contacts that augment and enhance service goals. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/111, Part II, Appendix G60, Recreation and Creative Arts Therapist Qualification Standard - GS-0638 Preferred Experience: Supervisory and Administrative experience The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Recreation Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" work. Medium Work entails: exerting 20 -50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. (i.e.: more than exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects).

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 Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Diana Dieringer
• Phone: 727-967-6873
• Email: [email protected]