Carl Vinson VAMC located in Dublin GA is seeking a Recreation Therapist to administer and interpret recreation therapy assessments and utilize clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information.

Duties

The Recreation Therapy (RT) position involves professional work requiring application and knowledge of concepts, principles, and scientifically-based practices in the use of therapeutic modalities to treat, maintain, and rehabilitate the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of individual patients. This occupation requires the application of professional, medical, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and palliative principles based on a medical prescription, medical referral, and/or the integration of recreation therapy within the multidisciplinary healthcare treatment plan for the patient.This is a direct patient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreation/creative arts therapist, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. The Incumbent is responsible for applying professional knowledge of advanced theories, principles, concepts, procedures, and methods in order to develop, organize and administer a Therapeutic Recreation/Creative Arts treatment plan for patients admitted to the VA Medical Center. The Incumbent will apply in-depth knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and psychology to collect pre-evaluation data, interpret medical record information, review therapy prescriptions, and conduct mental, physical, cognitive, and social evaluations of patients in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. The Incumbent is responsible for developing therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, neurocognitive disorders (dementia), neuromuscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, autoimmune disorders, amputations, paralysis, spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, and palliative care. The Incumbent will strive to diminish deterioration, maintain the highest degree of self-help and independence. The incumbent will use advanced knowledge in Therapeutic Recreation to ensure appropriate treatment protocols will best benefit and meet the individual treatment needs of each patient being served. Work Schedule: Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. Certification Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. Certification cannot be waived if bachelor's degree is in any other field than therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure. 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. Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification. In all cases, recreation and creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration and/or certification requirements, starting from the date of appointment. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreation and creative arts therapist occupation, and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential. A recreation or creative arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registration and/or certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements, in effect at the time of reentry, as a recreation or creative arts therapist Grade Determinations:GS-11 Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.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 5005/111 June 7, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G60The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.Physical Requirements: This position requires walking, standing, lifting at least 50lbs, transferring patients to and from wheelchairs with the use of assistive/adaptive devices, and participation in Recreation Therapy clinics which may be physical in nature. Additional physical demands include: kneeling, bending, pushing, stopping, extending, grasping, pulling, shifting patients, retrieving, pivoting, twisting, squatting, turning, balancing, stretching, reaching, carrying, swinging, creative movement, dodging, and dragging. The work requires 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 Carl Vinson VA Medical Center 1826 Veterans Boulevard Dublin, GA 31021 US
• Name: Amber Higgins
• Phone: (205) 933-8101 X333587
• Email: [email protected]