The position is located in the Resident Services Directorate, Recreation Services Division, Recreation Therapy Section. The primary purpose of this position is to provide therapeutic/clinical recreation services to the residents of the Home to enable them to have a satisfying, independent, leisure lifestyle through three domains of service: (1) Rehabilitation/treatment (2) Leisure education (3) Recreation.

Duties

As a Recreation Therapist, you will: Be responsible for developing, organizing and administering Recreation programs to provide therapeutic treatment to residents, with a variety of illnesses and disabilities to include but not limited to physical impairments, psychiatric, neurological and cognitive impairments. Assemble pre-evaluation data, interpret medical record information, and conduct mental and physical evaluation of resident in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. Employ therapeutic objectives, which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Input data in the electronic healthcare medical record system and updates quarterly to reflect current status of patients. Develop psycho-social activities for coping with frustration, stress, anger and hostility; and the appropriate use of leisure time; and improving social interaction skills.

Requirements

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized experience includes one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level or equivalent that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: * Experience in evaluating the history, interest, aptitude, and skills of patients, and using such findings to develop and implement therapy activities for individual patients; AND * Developing therapeutic recreation treatment plans for patients suffering from physical, emotional, and/or social dysfunctions relating to leisure; AND * Revising treatment plans based upon changes in the intervention, diagnosis, and patient responses; planning and conducting adaptive recreational activities. OR You may qualify on education alone with 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. NOTE: Experience in activities or programs that did not require application of a knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of recreation therapy or one of the creative arts therapy specializations covered by this standard, and that did not involve the use of therapeutic approaches to maintain the physical and/or mental health or to achieve the physical and/or mental rehabilitation of persons, (e.g., Outdoor Recreation Specialist, Commercial Recreation Leader, Vocational Counselor, or other diversionary-type recreation specialist positions) is not qualifying for this series. The work involves long periods of moving about the work unit. Work requires regular and recurring standing, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting and repositioning Residents. Must use proper body mechanics when lifting objects and use lift equipment for Residents. The work may require considerable and strenuous physical exertion, such as lifting objects greater the 50 pounds or defending oneself against physical attack. SPECIAL NOTE: Long-term care experience and/or interacting with geriatric patients is highly desired.

Education

Education Requirements:This position requires a successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in recreational therapy or in a creative arts therapy field (art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, or psychodrama); or a major in an appropriate subject-matter field with therapeutic emphasis or concentration.

The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Contacts

• Address Resident Services - Washington Administrative Resource Center Parkersburg, WV 26101 US
• Name: Applicant Call Center
• Phone: 304-480-7300
• Email: [email protected]