The VA New Jersey Health Care Center-Lyons Campus is currently recruiting for one Recreation Therapist aligned under the Recreation Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VA NJHCS). The Recreation Therapist provides treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services.

Duties

Some duties of the position are listed below: Clinical: Evaluate and establish goals based on assessment findings, developing treatment interventions for physical, social, cognitive, emotional, or leisure functional domains. Implement and modify treatment plans as needed for optimum outcomes throughout the course of treatment. Perform documentation of patient care, including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports. Utilize Recreation Therapy expertise for direct service delivery to patients, acting as a subject matter expert for staff, students, and healthcare professionals. Serve as the Recreation Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams as assigned. Educate patients, families, and caregivers on treatment interventions and goals, considering adaptations for optimal outcomes. Demonstrate competency in treating patients across age ranges with complex medical or mental health issues. Develop and implement methods for measuring the effectiveness of recreation therapy services, utilizing outcome evaluations for continuous improvement. Oversee and train clinical Recreation Therapy interns or practicum students. Administration: Adhere to Medical Center policies, utilizing the Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures and following ADP Security policy. Participate in the evaluation, management, and safe storage of equipment and supplies affecting service delivery. Foster and maintain a safe treatment area. Promote effective communication with patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff, and community partners. Attend scheduled departmental meetings, meetings affecting patient care, and committee meetings as assigned. Use the government purchase card to procure goods and services necessary for therapeutic programs, abiding by all purchase card policies and procedures. Perform other related duties as assigned. Education: Maintain professional competence through participation in appropriate educational activities. Assist in teaching and providing learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns as required. Participate in staff orientation, successfully complete Medical Center assigned mandatory trainings, and engage in in-service activities. Deliver treatment in compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) accrediting agencies and VHA directives. Supervisory Controls: Report to the Chief, Recreation Therapy. Operate independently as an autonomous practitioner capable of delivering recreational therapy services. Be responsible for all aspects of recreational therapy service delivery, ensuring safety and effectiveness. Consult the Chief, Recreation Therapy for complex cases without clear precedents or seek assistance as needed. Review all aspects of patient treatment for results and conformance to policies and requirements. Oversee Recreation Therapy Assistants, students, and volunteers in the assigned work area as appropriate and as directed. Performs other duties as assigned or required. Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday (Rotating Day and Evening Shifts with Some Holidays) Day Shift: 8:00am - 4:30pm Evening Shift: 1:00pm - 9:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. US Citizen Education. 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, 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. Licensure or Certification. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current recreation therapy practice. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation therapist in the health care field. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to a recreation therapist at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, as described in this standard, at the specified grade level, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a recreation therapist is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time work week. For example, a recreation therapist employed 20 hours per week, or on a half time basis, would receive one work week credit for each two weeks of service. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must also meet the grade requirements for this position. Recreation Therapist, GS-11 Experience. Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate 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. Assignment. Employees serving at the full performance level function with independent judgment to administer and interpret recreation therapy assessments and utilize clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information. They conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, the therapist constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues, such as polytrauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness (SMI), and hospice/palliative care requirements. They provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision. They review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Based upon the assessment data, and in collaboration with other stakeholders, the therapist develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration, and treatment. They recommend adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. Through the use of activity/task analysis, behavioral interventions, and therapeutic procedures, the therapist designs individualized treatment interventions to reduce stress, anxiety, and maladaptive behaviors; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community in a productive manner. Sophisticated techniques/strategies used to improve or support clinical outcomes may include, but are not limited to: developing positive patterns of behavior; relaxation and stress reduction; lifestyle alteration; social skills training; developing or improving (enhancing) self-esteem; developing and maintaining positive relationships; motor learning and training strategies; anger and pain management; identify risks; recovery support; lifestyle adjustment; conflict/problem resolution; adjustment to disability; and including coping with grief and loss. Resourcefulness is exercised in providing individualized, unique, effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to: assistive technology; cognitive behavioral skills; aquatic therapy; fitness and wellness; community accessibility/reintegration/transition; and adapted sports and leisure development. Patient needs are evaluated for additional, alternative, or termination of services. Intervention plans are monitored for effectiveness, making modifications, as needed. Recreation therapists determine the effectiveness of protocols, modalities, and programs for targeted groups through quantitative analysis and identify potential risks and needs for adaptive interventions to facilitate improved biopsychosocial well-being. They participate in co-treatment opportunities, including but not limited to: neurological rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs, and palliative care related to the symptoms of a terminal illness. Discharge analysis and planning is conducted for community needs. References: VA Handbook 5005/111 PART II APPENDIX G60 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. (This is a required document)

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Asaph Blodgett
• Email: [email protected]