Orlando VA Healthcare System is looking for a Staff Recreation Therapist. They will be assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, a level 1a facility serving different inpatient and outpatient programs. Recreation Therapist provides treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluations of patient treatment services.

Duties

Orlando VA Healthcare is a Level 1B complexity system that covers 118,000+ veterans in East Central Florida. The incumbent is part of the Rehabilitation section of the Anesthesia and Physical Medicine Service composed of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, and Kinesiotherapy. The Recreational and Creative Arts Therapist is assigned to one of the numerous site locations throughout the Orlando VA HealthCare System. The Recreational Therapist will be responsible for providing a Recreation and Creative Arts evaluation and treatment to veteran patients. Employees at this grade level serve as staff Recreational and Creative Arts Therapists at the full performance level. The therapist will provide coverage for Recreation and Creative Arts Therapy services throughout the Orlando Healthcare system depending on the station in which they were assigned. Locations vary based on veteran care but may include the following: Whole Health, HUD-VASH, Adaptive Sports, MFH/HBPC, CLC, DOM, Inpatient (Mental Health) and Outpatient care. The incumbent will directly report to the Supervisory, Recreational Therapy or assigned Section Chief within the Anesthesia and Physical Medicine Service. While it is rare, there may be occasions when a Recreational Therapist will be required to provide service at another site on a temporary basis based on patient demand. Some of the position duties are: Primary function is to provide direct patient care within a multitude of settings. The incumbent must possess the ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines and evaluate assigned program area(s). Carries full responsibility for cases, presenting a wide range of social, emotional, and environmental problems and will provide services according to the assessment of the veteran's needs, encompassing even the most difficult cases. Completes group work, case management, community coordination, and/or work with voluntary services and service organizations. The Recreational Therapist plans, develops, and implements comprehensive, routine treatment programs for individual and groups of patients in order to rehabilitate and remediate the effects of disease, disability, or illness and to help restore functioning at the highest level Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, This tour may be modified by the Supervisory Recreational Therapist Coordinator or Section Chief, Rehabilitation based on clinical space and/or organizational needs. He/she may be occasionally asked to cross cover settings or be reassigned to a new setting based on the needs of the veterans being served and the staff mix. Work rotations may include weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 81207F, 81208F and 004286 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Recreation Therapist: 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. 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. 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). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Recreation Therapist, GS-7 Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Recreation Therapist, GS-9 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance. Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process. Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. Recreation Therapist, GS-11 Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. 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. 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. 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. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G60 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: This position requires moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above the shoulder, use of both hands and fingers, walking & standing (up to 3 hours/day), repeated bending (up to 2 hours), use of both legs, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, and emotional stability

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

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 407-631-8496
• Email: [email protected]