The Recreation Therapist/Creative Arts Therapist provide care and rehabilitation services which contribute to the overall health of Veterans. The work requires a professional knowledge of recreation or creative arts therapy, and skill in applying a wide range of theories, principles, and methodologies in the practice of recreation or creative arts therapy.

Duties

The Recreation Therapist is assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) with responsibility to provide recreation therapy services to adult and geriatric Veterans (including short stay rehab, dementia protective care unit, hospice/palliative care and long term care patients) receiving care in the Roseburg VA Health Care System. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Conduct patient evaluations; analyze and interpret leisure, cognitive, and motor skill assessment data to develop individualized goals, objectives, and treatment plan of care; Constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues such as Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; and Hospice/Palliative Care. Develop and select interventions to achieve patient goals; review patient progress; Adapt or adjust the treatment plan and intervention strategies; Implement therapeutic interventions that support measurable functional outcomes (interventions include, but are not limited to leisure education, reality orientation, memory, and gross motor activities); Evaluate patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services; Document patient's behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes; Develop and provide collaborative services with other team members. Review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations incorporating the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered. Develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration and treatment. Recommends adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet the assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. Constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical and/or mental health issues. Using activity/task analysis, behavioral interventions, and therapeutic procedures, they design individualized treatment interventions to reduce stress, anxiety and maladaptive behaviors, recover basic motor functioning, reasoning abilities, build confidence, and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community in a productive manner. Evaluates patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services and monitor effectiveness of intervention plans and makes modifications, as needed. Determines effectiveness of protocols, modalities and programs for targeted groups through quantitative analysis and identifies potential risks and need for adaptive interventions with cases to facilitate improved bio-psychosocial well-being. Work Schedule: M-F 8-4:30 with rotating weekends Compressed/Flexible:May be available with Supervisor approval. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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, 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: 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. vi. 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 PART II APPENDIX G60 II-G60-1 APPENDIX G60. RECREATION AND CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0638 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: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pushing, 3 hours; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, 1 hour; Standing, 1 hour; Kneeling; Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; See cellphone and computer screens; Depth perception; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Working outside and inside, on slippery or uneven walking surfaces, in moderate hear/cold/dampness, near pools, in/around parking lots, in community areas outside; Working closely with others; Working alone; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Roseburg VA Medical Center 913 Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard Roseburg, OR 97471 US
• Name: Angelica Jimenez
• Phone: (541) 440-1000 X40641
• Email: [email protected]