This position is assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The position involves assisting Recreation Therapists and the Rehabilitation Section in the implementation of recreational programs, activities, and events to meet Veterans' needs.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Administers a wide variety of therapeutic recreation treatment interventions and activities as part of the patient care plan Implements and modifies treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimal outcomes Utilizes recreational materials and equipment, gym equipment and therapeutic exercises Plans schedules, and implements a diverse variety of leisure and therapeutic recreational activities for Veterans and family members including but not limited to sports and games, art, crafts, music, drama, horticulture, pets, trips, special events, social programs, etc. Performs activity support functions such as setting up recreation areas for scheduled activities, gathering information and making reservations for trips and outings, arranging for equipment and supplies, transporting patients to and from activities, etc. Performs basic documentation in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in federal service (GS-5 that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this Therapy Assistant position. Specialized experience includes 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. Applicants must be able to plan and carry out activities of direct patient care, such as therapeutic activities using recreational materials/equipment to provide therapeutic exercises and documenting patient response and progress. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one-half year (9 semester hours) of graduate education with course work that is directly related to the position of a Therapy Assistant. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: A combination of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Driver's License: A current and valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued Driver's License at that time. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationsPatient CareTechnical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. 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. 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

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]