The Recreation Therapist position is located in the Rehabilitation Services within the VA Augusta Health Care System. The incumbent receives supervision from higher level staff for developing, organizing and administering recreation therapy programs to provide therapeutic interventions to patients in the inpatient rehabilitation program, outpatient program, and community environments.

Duties

Major duties include, but not limited to: GS-07 Functions A. Clinical Responsibilities With direct supervision from higher level staff: Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team developing treatment objectives and goals. Provides assessment and treatment interventions. Interprets and administers physicians' recreation therapy consults/orders, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. Develops and implements psychosocial activities for coping with frustration, stress, anger, and hostility as well as education and training on the appropriate use of leisure time with the goal of improving social interaction skills. B. Program Responsibilities Assists with developing and providing effective evidence based clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care and Professional Ethics. GS-09 Functions A. Clinical Responsibilities Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team developing treatment objectives and goals. Interprets and administers physicians' recreation therapy consults/orders, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. Develops and implements psychosocial activities for coping with frustration, stress, anger, and hostility as well as education and training on the appropriate use of leisure time with the goal of improving social interaction skills. B. Program Responsibilities Assists with developing and providing effective evidence based clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care and Professional Ethics. Assists with reviewing, developing, implementing and coordinating recreation therapy program treatment protocols for Veterans participating in adaptive sports, recreation, aquatic exercise, leisure and physical fitness reactivation. Provides structured ongoing program as part of patient treatment plan, the incumbent encourages patients to develop and enhance the appropriate psychosocial skills, peer-to-peer interactions, executive functions, motor planning and physical skills needed for successful community involvement. C. Documentation Documents patient care using the electronic medical record and updates per medical documentation policy to reflect current status of patients. GS-11 Functions: A. Administration of Treatment: Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team developing treatment objectives and goals. Providing assessment and treatment interventions. Handles difficult cases involving patients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other severe medical complications. Interprets and administers physicians' Recreation Therapy consults/orders, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. Develops treatment plans and administers therapeutic recreation interventions which are directed to such goals as sensory integration, ambulation, diminishing emotional stress, community reentry, reality orientation, muscular dysfunction and reorientation, treatment of psychosocial dysfunction, providing a sense of achievement and progress and channeling energies into acceptable forms of behavior. Provides patient care that is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. B. Assessment and Treatment Planning: Uses effective interviewing techniques to obtain objective and factual information pertaining to the Veteran's interests and aptitudes. Interviews Veterans by exhibiting needs and tolerances alleviating fears and anxieties, using therapeutic forms of encouragement as well as discipline or correction when necessary to hold the client accountable for behaviors Develops treatment plans using client's assessment, physician or nurse's therapy orders. Develops intermediate and long-term goals and objectives with each patient in his/her assigned program. Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team recommending treatment objectives. Administers mental and physical assessments for patients with severe and/or multiple diagnoses. C. Program Responsibilities: Develops and provides effective evidence based clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care and Professional Ethics. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Telework: No Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:F00820, F50017, F50016 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not require.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: (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: (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; OR (c) 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: 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). Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Professional Recreation Therapy or Creative Arts Therapy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (also referred to as "clinical competencies") associated with current professional recreation or creative arts therapy practices. Evidence of such experience includes private practice, U.S. military services, local/state/federal government organizations, for profit/non-profit organizations, health care, or educational facilities. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Recreation Therapist, GS-7 (a) Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. Employees at this level serve in an entry level position as a recreation therapist. They work under the direct supervision of a recreation or creative arts therapist, at or above the full-performance level, or a designated supervisor in a clinical environment. Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline, and work with guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. 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. AND (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient. ii. Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance. iii. Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process. iv. 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. AND (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. 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. ii. 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. iii. 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. iv. 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. v. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.vi. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. Preferred Experience: References: VA Handbook 5005/111, Part II, Appendix G60, Recreation and Creative Arts Therapist Qualification Standard, dated June 7, 2019. 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-07 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderately heavy lifting (over 50 pounds) or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled patients and assisting patients with mobility. Tasks can include climbing, lifting, pushing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling. Gross and fine motor dexterity required. The work requires specific, common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity.

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 Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Cecelia Perkins
• Phone: 5409822463 2403
• Email: [email protected]