The incumbent is responsible for developing, organizing and administering Recreation Therapy programs and providing therapeutic treatment to patients within the Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare System. The work involves applying various recreational activities to improve, restore, or maintain the physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning of individuals. The Recreation Therapists help patients to develop the skills needed for functional independence.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Assess the needs of each patient Creates, explores, evaluates, designs, and shares solutions and the validity of their predicted performance to resolve problems, conditions, and issues. Assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy prescriptions, and conducts recreation and leisure skills assessments based on cognitive, emotional, social and physical evaluations of the patient. i) assessment allows for the development and implementation of a treatment plan. Devises specific activities and modalities to maintain or promote optimal leisure functioning (improve patient's general state of physical or mental health.) Develops therapeutic action programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, head injury, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, patients with multiple diagnoses and hospice patients. Verbalizes and determines knowledge in the following age and population specific competencies: early adult (18-29 years) Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Veteran; young adult (30-44 years) GWOT or Gulf War Veteran; middle adult (45-50 years) GWOT, Gulf War or Vietnam Veteran; late adult (60-70 years) Vietnam era or Korean conflict; and late, late adult (80 years and above) Korean conflict and World War II Veterans. Plans Effective Treatment Assessing, resolving, and predicting the relationships and interactions of data and findings under varying conditions. Interpret physician prescriptions to independently formulate a treatment plan that meets prescribed goals. Employs therapeutic objectives, which are complex because of the severe, and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Unusual tact and skill are necessary to the success of the rehabilitation process. Interprets and administers physician's prescriptions, schedules patients for treatment and integrates Recreation Therapy activities with other treatments to achieve the goals established for the patients. Recreation Therapy teaches independent living skills, social interaction skills, adjustment to change coping skills, pre-vocational or work adjustment skills, mobility exercises, cognitive retraining and patient health education to patients following psychiatric episodes, substance abuse detoxification, head injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, joint replacement and stroke or other medical crisis constituting life changes. Coordinates the Recreation treatment plan with the treatment team and patient's family/caregiver ta provide a program that focuses on treatment goals. Develops psychosocial activities for coping with frustration, stress, anger and hostility; the appropriate use of leisure time; and improving social interaction skills. Functions as a core team member of a clinical multidisciplinary team to provide total health care delivery to the patient and continuity of care by sharing ideas and exchanging pertinent information. Administers, Evaluates and Adjusts Treatments Identifying, analyzing, advising, consulting, and reporting on medical, theoretical, and factual data, conditions, and problems. Incumbent participates in Medical Center committees as assigned. Incumbent is a sponsor of students under clinical affiliations and supervises patients in Compensated Work Therapy and Incentive Work Therapy Programs as well as volunteers. Incumbent requests and maintains recreation equipment and supplies within their assigned areas. Inputs scheduling data into hospital DHCP computer system and updates daily to reflect status of patients. Incumbent appropriately and accurately utilizes appointment management software as required by their position. Frequently selects, adapts, and/or adjusts recreation therapy modalities in accordance with rehabilitation goals. Modifies techniques and develops new approaches as necessary to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals. The incumbent can understand and verbalize the essential components of ANCC Magnet philosophy. Supports the provision of personalized proactive Veteran driven health care. Participates in ward rounds with ward physicians and other members of the treatment team. The incumbent is solely responsible for development and maintenance of professional standards of recreation therapy. In Domiciliary Care the incumbent works under general supervision of the Domiciliary Unit Program Manager on the unit to which he/she is assigned. Work Schedule: FT, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52770-O, 52771-O, 52772-O 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)). Education. The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist, creative arts therapist (art), creative arts therapist (dance/movement), creative arts therapist (drama), and creative arts therapist (music): Recreation Therapist (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. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Required Certification Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(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 or creative arts 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Recreation Therapist, GS-7 Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Recreation Therapist, GS-9 (a) 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. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient. 2. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance. 3. Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process. 4. Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. Recreation Therapist, GS-11 (a) Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. 6. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. References: VA Handbook 5005/111, PART II, APPENDIX G60. Preferred Experience: At least two years of recreational therapy experience. Holds a Recreational Therapist Certificate. 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: Must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

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 Jack C Montgomery VA Medical Center 1011 Honor Heights Drive Muskogee, OK 74401 US
• Name: Phillip Narey
• Phone: 720-723-4833
• Email: [email protected]