This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), VA Caribbean Healthcare System, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), Recreational Therapy (RT) section, San Juan, PR.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major Duties: The position involves assisting Recreation Therapists, the Supervisory Recreation Therapist, and the Recreation Therapy section in the implementation of recreational programs, activities, and events to meet veterans' needs. Administers a wide variety of therapeutic recreation treatment interventions and activities developed by a Recreation Therapist as part of the patient plan of care. Deals directly with patients and the public, and exercises politeness and self-control to avoid or prevent negative incidents under his/her control. Assists the Recreation Therapy Section in implementing treatment plans, therapeutic programs, activities, and events to meet Veterans' leisure and therapeutic needs. Provides therapeutic recreation interventions per the veteran's individual treatment plan for groups and individual interventions. Reports any significant change in treatment or observations pertaining to the intervention plan prepared by the Recreational Therapist to modify treatment approaches and reassess rehabilitation and therapeutic goals of Veteran when warranted. Assists in all preparation efforts for therapeutic recreation intervention. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts that may include days, evenings, holidays and weekend tours to meet veteran and programmatic needs. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicant(s) must meet the following qualifications: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in federal service (GS-5). This experience must be close to the work of this position and 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 have experience utilizing their knowledge of recreation equipment, recreation rules and regulations, and enrichment programs; planning and carrying out activities of direct patient such as therapeutic activities; using recreational materials/equipment to provide therapeutic exercises, and documenting patient response and progress. NOTE: Your experience must be clearly documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. We will not make assumptions regarding experience. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed one-half year (9 semester hours) of graduate education with course work that is directly related to the position of this Therapy Assistant position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. 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 OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): An equivalent combination of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above. NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume (job title, duties, employment dates, and hours worked per week) and you must submit a copy of your transcript. -AND- 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- Spanish Language Proficiency : Proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish. 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: Work requires good physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Prolong standing, walking, bending, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, and gripping are regular. Moderate to heavy lifting (5-S0lbs) is required for moving equipment/materials and/or assisting patients. Sitting is required for meetings and administrative work. Treatment is provided in the VACHS Medical Center and in the community. The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts that require good health and observation of safety precautions. Potentially hazardous equipment requiring safety precautions is operated, such as but not limited to gardening tools and barbecue grills. Potential exposure to body fluids and infection requires education, occasional use of protective clothing, and observance of universal precautions at all times. The potential for exposure to physical or verbally aggressive behaviors from patients with confusion, dementia, or behavioral conditions exists. The work may be performed during off hours, weekends, or holidays, sometimes in isolated areas. The work may be performed outdoors at the VA or in the community on outings, involving inclement weather, community hazards on pavement, streets, curbs, 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

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]