This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs Richmond VA Medical Center in Richmond, VA. This position is in the Recreation Therapy Section under the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS). The Recreation Therapy Program is designed to provide an opportunity for all patients served at the medical center to participate in constructive therapeutic and leisure experiences.

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 incumbent includes the utilization of recreational material and equipment, gym equipment, therapeutic exercises, and documents progress in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). The work requires knowledge of basic health care issues and technical knowledge of the field of Therapeutic Recreation. Major duties include: Completes a preliminary review examination of patient data, complies and organizes patient information developing a patient profile to be used in assessing patient needs for therapy services. Plans and carries out direct patient care activities in accordance to the individual and group treatment plans for the rehabilitation of patients with physical and psychiatric conditions. Such activities might include: social hours, exercises at gym and therapeutic pool, arts & craft sessions, outings in the community and others as requested. Conducts and educates volunteers and Interns, work study program students to the overall program and provides orientation on the effective use of equipment to meet the treatment goals. Provides training to staff, volunteers, and Interns, work study program students oh Infection Control measures to deliver direct patient care activities within health standards by teaching them how to use health devices to protect themselves and protect patients from contamination. Plans and carries out highly specialized and diversified treatments for patients who have physical and/or mental conditions. Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies. Also maintains treatment area, recognizing potential hazardous situations and notifies for immediate correction. Maintains records of all services provided using Event Capture Encounters (ECS) and current procedures to prepare reports as required by the service. Reports noted deficiencies in customer service delivery and contributes with ideas to improve operations. Participates in information and outcome management activities. And, All other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized 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. To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: Possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in federal service (GS-5 that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this Therapy Assistant position. Specialized experience includes work as an assistant to one of the specialized therapies such as occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy; or experience gained as an assistant or aid in patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic. Applicants must be able to plan and carry out activities of direct patient care, such as therapeutic activities using recreational materials/equipment to provide therapeutic exercises and documenting patient response and progress. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one-half year (9 semester hours) of graduate education with course work that is directly related to the position of a Therapy Assistant. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: A combination of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Human FactorsMechanicsTeaches OthersWritten Communication 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: Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Prolonged standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking are regular. Moderate to heavy lifting (between 5-50 pounds) is required for assisting patients. Sitting is required for meetings, and administrative work. 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 Central Virginia VA Health Care System 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond, VA 23249 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]