This position is located in the Whole Health Service of the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Hampton, VA. The position is responsible for providing Tai Chi and/or Qigong instruction for the purpose of promoting, restoring, and preserving health and well-being of Veterans and supporting additional recreational activities.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities will include: Provides simple accurate instruction in the areas of Tai Chi and/or Qigong such as verbal, kinesthetic or visual cues to correct body alignment during various movements. Prepares class format and content appropriate for the type of class and level of participants. Independently monitors class participants to ensure proper postural alignment and use of any equipment. Adapts Tai Chi and/or Qigong protocols to match patient ability, physical and mental limitations. Records attendance at classes in medical records, noting any precautions or clinically relevant outcomes. Serves as a consultant to leadership on issues surrounding Tai Chi and/or Qigong. Leads Tai Chi and/or Qigong classes for well-being and maintenance of health. Participates in meetings as necessary to report on progress and receive feedback on patients, programs and interventions. Conducts sessions to inform healthcare providers and patient groups about the benefits of Tai Chi and/or Qigong when appropriate. Acts as mentor to Tai Chi and/or Qigong teacher trainees as needed. Participates in creating standards and protocols for Tai Chi and/or Qigong teachers at VAMC Instructs Veterans on the safe use of Tai Chi and/or Qigong equipment Provides transportation for off station recreational outings; ensures the safety of patients during all activities on and off station; uses good judgment and tact when confronted with problems arising between people in the community and any Veteran Asks permission every time to touch/ adjust someone during a class Work Schedule: 8:00AM- 4:30PM, Monday- Friday Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#: Recreation Assistant (Tai Chi/Qigong)/PD99580S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 10/13/2023. 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. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: 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. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Ability to perform the duties of a Tai Chi and/or Qigong instructor, skill in performing administrative responsibilities, skill in providing recreation support, skill in communicating/interacting with others, maintaining records and providing information for recreational activities. Experience as a group leader/counselor for private/public recreation programs; experience as an aid for recreation or physical education in a school, the military, resort/hotel, state/national park. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. ~OR~ Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Half a year of graduate education (usually 9 semester hours) that is directly related to the work of this position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.Must provide transcript(s) if using Education. ~OR~ Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Experience must be detailed, and transcripts required. Must provide transcript(s) if using Education. Preferred but not required: American Tai Chi and Qigong Association (ATCQA) Certified Tai Chi Instructor Level I or equivalent (150 hours documented hours of formal Tai Chi training,)~OR~Qi Gong instructors: Level I Qi Gong Instructor certified by the National Qigong Association, or equivalent is preferred. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationInterpersonal SkillsTechnical CompetenceVeteran and Customer Focus 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: Work involves regular and recurring physical exertion when walking, standing, sitting, bending, lifting, or moving equipment, pushing wheelchairs, positioning/transferring severely disabled patients, and assisting patients in ambulation. The work requires driving vehicles, tying down wheelchairs, propelling wheelchairs, loading/unloading equipment, and supplies, etc. 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

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 Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Cassandra Brown
• Phone: 804-675-5000 X2353
• Email: [email protected]