Summary Incumbent will serve as a Recreation Therapy Assistant (RTA), GS-0189-06, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at Tennessee Valley VA Healthcare System (TVHS); a dual campus- Murfreesboro/Nashville. The incumbent is charged with responsibility for a range of recreation programs for assigned patient care program(s). They play a crucial role in supporting the primary recreation or creative arts therapist (RCAT) in carrying out recreation services. Responsibilities Under direction of the primary RCAT, the RTA is responsible for the daily planning and implementation of recreation programs, services and activity interventions on specific units and areas with coverage needs including: Community Living Centers (CLC), Mental Health (MH), Creative Arts, Adaptive Sports and rec hall. These activities include but are not limited to unit-based formal/informal and community settings. Incumbent is responsible for the coordination, scheduling and completion of activities relating to Veteran's programs, including pet visitation, community outings, special events and other opportunities as indicated. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Supervise and assist with activities sponsored by volunteer groups for the service and will complete any forms as necessary and appropriate. Orient all new service volunteers, to the service facilities and services using the current published volunteer handbook and guidelines. Provides them with required orientation training and guidance. Plans and assists the details of special events and federal holiday programming. Schedules and publicizes recreation activities, ensuring maximum effectiveness in attracting and motivating participants and in providing the widest possible range of activities in terms of interests and needs. Coordinates the activities schedule with the RCAT to ensure compliance with standards of practice and facility requirements. Arranges for supplies and services needed to accomplish scheduled recreation activities for Recreation Therapy Service. Sets up the recreational area in preparation of the activity and provide area supervision and instruction as needed. Maintaining the recreation activity areas, offices, outdoor activity areas by performing periodic on-site inspections and reporting problems. Maintains all recreational equipment in a safe working condition, requesting repairs when indicated and reporting possible safety hazards in keeping with VA regulations. Documents recreation participation and progress of patients toward achieving their goals under the supervision of RCAT. Captures workload through encounters. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, Tuesday - Saturday; 11:00am - 7:30pm; 11:30am - 8:00pm; 8am- 4:30pm Telework: AD hoc- VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Recreation Assistant/PD70809-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI):Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/02/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. In addition to the Time-in-Grade Requirement, applicants must also possess the Individual Occupational Requirement as described below. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above) Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: 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. In addition to the Time-in-Grade requirement and Individual Occupational Requirement, applicants must have the specialized experience as described below. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as follows: working with a wide range or programs and activities in physical fitness, rehabilitation and/or recreational activities; Utilizing standard methods to plan and coordinate recreation activities and proposing adaptations to procedures, planning and scheduling and other logistical details. Possessing a familiarity with the physical and mental capabilities, emotional and psychological considerations, and interests for medical facility patients. Maintaining recreational materials and equipment needed for games, crafts and sporting events. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Communication Patient Care Veteran and Customer Focus 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working with veterans; Tai Chi or Yoga Certifications; experience planning recreation and/or leisure activities; volunteer management Quality Ranking Factor: Experience with recreation therapy or therapeutic recreation; experience working with veterans; Tai Chi or Yoga Certifications; experience planning recreation and/or leisure activities; volunteer management Physical Requirements: Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling: 1 - 10 pounds constantly, 10 - 25 frequently, and 25 - 50 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include: Picking up, carrying, and placing folders, charts, books, and binders. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and supply carts. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers, which may be up to 50 pounds. RTA must be able to push patients in wheelchairs on level and incline ground. 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 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
