These positions are located within the Sensory and Physical Rehabilitation Service Line at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Togus, Maine. The Recreation Assistant serves as a Long Term Care Activities Program Planner and is responsible for coordinating both individual and group activities for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory inpatients, outpatients, and Long-Term Care/Community Living Center under the close guidance of a Recreation Therapist.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Consults with the interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure patient activities are diverse, highly specialized to meet individual needs and consistent with the objectives of the interdisciplinary treatment plan; Collaborates with other Recreation and Voluntary Service staff coordinating and carrying out center-wide activities and special events; Plans, initiates, develops and coordinates innovative Recreation Programs for the Long-Term Care residents; Assists patients, families and the unit and/or Recreation Therapy staff in conducting interactive activities such as resident council, family forums and field trips; Meets regularly with the Recreation Therapists to discuss and review recreation programs and activities offered; Participates regularly on the interdisciplinary treatment team, reviewing patient progress and participation, identifying problems and making activity program changes; Serves as a backup for established activities for other patient groups; Maintains program-related records and statistical reports and completes supply inventories and requests; Maintains work areas in an efficient and orderly manner and reports hazards enhances patient and staff safety and repair needs to supervisor; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00am - 4:30pm with one evening 11:00 am - 7:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized 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. ~AND~ In addition to the English Language Proficiency, to qualify for this position all applicants must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes: (1) Group leader, counselor or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers or resort recreational activities; (2) Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities; (3) Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service; (4) Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities; (5) Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children); (6) Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop; (7) Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; (8) Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments and other organized group recreational activities. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed a four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as listed above, may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work such as recreation or physical education. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Clinical Data Collection/DocumentationPlanning and EvaluatingVulnerabilities Assessment 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 of this position involves a good deal of standing, bending, kneeling, and walking. Moderate lifting is required for positioning patients, assisting with transfers, moving activity equipment, and procuring supplies. 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 Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]