The Recreation Assistant is administratively aligned under the Recreation Therapy Section within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Service Line, VA Black Hills Healthcare System, Hot Springs, SD. The Recreation Assistant organizes, coordinates, schedules, and implements a program of therapeutic and free-choice recreation activities for designated patient groups that consist of young adults to geriatric patients with simple to complex psychiatric and/or physical disabilities.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities include: Planning and implementing recreation activities for designated patient groups as assigned. Adapting activities to provide enjoyable and therapeutically oriented activities that educate, motivate, and entertain patients. Utilizing a wide range of activities, modalities, and motivational techniques to stimulate patient interest and participation. Understanding and following patient-specific precautions and preferences and may participate as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team(s). Preparing medical record documentation, as assigned, to document the progress of patients, response to interventions, or unusual incidents. Conducting interventions in a variety of settings (on and off station), ranging from the usual dayroom to restaurants and parks. Providing treatment in groups of various sizes as determined by treatment goals and activity but may be on a one-to-one basis. Considering the patients' medical/psychiatric conditions and skills and utilizes sound judgment in implementing the therapist's treatment plans. Working closely with the recreation therapists and patient care product lines in planning both regular therapy sessions and special events. Maintaining and fostering relationships with service organizations. Performing various administrative duties such as scheduling vehicles and facilities, patient and volunteer attendance record maintenance, entering encounters, and preparing reports and patient progress notes. Performing other related duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Saturday, 8-hour days, 40 hours per week; and will work every other Friday or Saturday. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-5 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires a current, valid state driver's license. Do not upload a copy of your license at this time. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current, valid, and unrestricted state driver's license. ~AND~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to this Recreation Assistant position to be filled. Specialized experience for the position includes serving as a 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. ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: implementing a program of therapeutic and free-choice recreation activities for patient groups with simple to complex psychiatric/physical disabilities; documenting progress of patients. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must have successfully completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-5 level. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE AND COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Patient CareTeamwork 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 position requires sedentary time to complete administrative duties. It also involves walking, standing, some lifting (5-50lbs on occasion), bending, and stooping to assist disabled patients with mobilization; active involvement with patients in a variety of recreation therapy programs; driving motor vehicles (van/bus/car/tractor). This position requires the ability to provide quick action in an emergency situation. 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 VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]