This position is located within the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Service at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, PA. The Recreation Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the primary recreation or creative arts therapist in carrying out recreation services.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The major duties include but are not limited to: Independently develops and implements programs after receiving approval from the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or Supervisor; Carries out a full range of Therapeutic Recreation Services inclusive of recreation therapeutic modalities and general recreation (diversional) activities; Works with patients who have a variety of illnesses, diseases and/or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment; Provides patient care based on practical knowledge of the modalities used in therapeutic recreation programs; Develops specific activities and routines to maintain or improve patient's general state of physical and/or mental health based on the therapeutic recreation assessment completed by the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS/TRS); Independently supervises on-station and off-station general (diversional) activity programs for various types of disabilities; Collaborates with professional CTRS/TRS to select, adapt and/or adjust recreation therapy modalities in accordance with treatment goals; Records patient participation in electronic recording system and utilizes the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), to obtain patient goals to record notable occurrences during programming; Supervises and assists with activities sponsored by volunteer groups for the service and completes any forms as necessary and appropriate; Plans and assists with the details of special events and federal holidays; Coordinates the activities schedule with the recreation/creative arts therapist to ensure compliance with standards of practice and facility requirements; Sets up the recreational area in preparation of the activity and provides area supervision and instruction as needed; Manages all supplies and equipment used in assigned areas by inventory, storage, issue, service and repair; and Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, rotating shifts, weekends and holidays required; evenings may be required depending on the needs of the department. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

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~ In addition to the English Language Proficiency, to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Recreation Assistant, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Group leader, counselor or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers or resort recreational activities; Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities; Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service; Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records and providing information concerning schedules and activities; Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children); Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop; Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments and other organized group recreational activities. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed at least one-half year (1/2) of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a Bachelor's degree) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Recreation Assistant position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Recreation Assistant position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~AND~ Driver's License Requirement (Screen-out): This position requires driving to perform the official duties of the position; therefore, a current and valid state-issued driver's license is required. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Manages and Organizes InformationReasoning (Clerical/Technical)Technical 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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time and over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; frequent bending, crouching, reaching, stooping and stretching or similar activities to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as bowling and sports equipment and repositioning patients; and pushing or pulling heavy objects. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapeutic procedures. Must be able to push wheelchair patients on level and inclined ground and physically able to drive the station vehicles and complete all requirements for operating a station vehicle. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]