Summary The Recreation Therapist is assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury & Disorder (SCI/D) Service at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System - Rocky Mountain Regional (RMR) VA Medical Center. Patient care is conducted not only at RMR, but also outlying Clinic Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and in the community. Responsibilities The full performance level of the Recreation Therapist duties include, but aren't limited to the following: Conducts, analyzes, interprets & reports assessment data based upon functional domains: cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical & leisure Incorporates four-step assessment process: planning, implementation & evaluating delivered services Constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients w/ complex medical/mental health issues: spinal cord injury, SCI, Multiple Sclerosis, MS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, polytrauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Substance Use Disorder/addictions, Serious Mental Illness, SMI & hospice/palliative care requirements Conducts patient care individually, in group settings & works w/ community partners Provides patient care throughout the ECHCS catchment area during various times, receives general supervision & guidance for only most complex patients Strives to delay mental & physical deterioration, restore functional skills & abilities using adaptive rehabilitation techniques/technology, maintaining highest degree of self-help & independence w/in Veteran's disability limitations & is respectful of individual rights & preferences Evaluates/establishes goals based on evaluation findings Develops best practice & evidence-based treatment interventions across multiple areas of practice implements/modifies treatment plans/goals to ensure optimal outcomes Documents patient care, including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations & care plans Manages consults in a timely manner & ensures appropriate note & report completion Interprets provider referrals & consults, receives consults, provides scheduling guidance for Health Administration Service, Medical Support Administrators & applies all health & safety regulations to minimize/mitigate risks for providing patient care Serves as Subject Matter Expert for staff, students & other healthcare professionals Serves as SCI/D Recreation Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams & as SCI/D Spoke at site locations through RMR SCI/D Center Consults w/ patients, families/caregivers & other SCI/D staff & educates them on treatment interventions/goals/adaptations to ensure optimal treatment outcomes Creates specific leisure/recreation orders using appropriate resources for accomplishing agreed upon patient treatment goals to include: Rehabilitation Sports Equipment which includes an interdisciplinary team of SCI/D &/or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service staff to review order for medical appropriateness Recommends adaptation, modification &/or assistive technology to meet patient's assessed needs & preferences in recreation therapy Implements therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to: assistive technology, cognitive behavioral skills; aquatic therapy, fitness & wellness, community accessibility/reintegration/transition; & adapted sports & leisure development Participates in co treatment opportunities, including but not limited to: neurological rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs & palliative care related to terminal illness symptoms Performs discharge analysis & planning for community needs Maintains appropriate professional boundaries Participates in National Recreation Therapy events, such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Summer Sports Clinic, Winter Sports Clinic & National Creative Arts Festival Adheres w/ Medical Center policies Uses Automated Data Processing system according to established procedures Evaluates equipment & supplies, which affects their service delivery Effectively instructs patients & family members how to use medical devices correctly Adjusts communication & tracking methods based on age & developmental considerations Accurately assesses & documents patient comprehension Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork Practices good customer customer service and demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:60176,6077,60178-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending educational or certification/licensure requirements completion may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met Basic Requirements: US Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens English Language Proficiency. Must be able to speak & write English Education. Following education requirements apply to recreation therapist, creative arts therapist, art, creative arts therapist, dance/movement, creative arts therapist, drama & creative arts/music therapist: a) Bachelor's degree or higher from accredited college or university w/ a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure w/ an option &/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. Degree must be approved by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) OR b) Bachelor's degree or higher in any field from accredited college or university & must be a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, CTRS. Degree must be approved by NCTRC. If hired under this education, certification cannot be waived Required Certification. Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by NCTRC. If hired under paragraph b, certification cannot be waived Exception. Non-registered &/or non-certified applicants who otherwise meet eligibility requirements for registration &/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as graduate recreation or creative arts therapists, under authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed 2 years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration &/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. Exception only applies to positions at GS-7 & GS-9 level. Grade levels at or above full performance levels, candidates must be registered &/or certified Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification. In all cases, recreation & creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration &/or certification requirements, starting from appointment date. At time of appointment, Supervisors will provide unregistered &/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist w/ written requirements to obtain registration/certification, date which registration &/or certification must be acquired & consequences for not becoming registered &/or certified by deadline. Failure to become registered &/or certified w/in 2 years from appointment date will result in removal from GS-0638 recreation & creative arts therapist occupation & may result in employment termination Loss of Credential. Recreation or creative arts therapists who fail to maintain required registration &/or certification must be removed from occupation, which may also result in employment termination Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as recreation or creative arts therapists, on effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education & registration &/or certification that are part of occupation basic requirements. Employees who don't meet all basic requirements in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: 1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to & including, full performance, journeyman level, or changed to lower grade w/in occupation but may not be promoted beyond journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions 2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to qualification standard effective date may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet standard basic requirements 3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain required credentials as a employment condition in occupation 4) Recreation & creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision & subsequently leave occupation lose protected status & must meet full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at time of reentry as recreation or creative arts therapists Grade Determinations: Following criteria must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment GS-7 Experience/Education. None beyond basic requirements GS-9 Experience/Education. At least 1 year of creditable experience at next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for required 1 year of professional recreation therapist experience Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, KSAs. Candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Knowledge of assessment tools & treatment for patient diagnosis or disability 2) Knowledge to interpret & apply all health & safety regulations, to minimize/mitigate risks in patient care provisions & environmental maintenance 3) Ability to effectively communicate & educate patients, families, caregivers & other health care staff to facilitate treatment process 4) Knowledge to apply evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions GS-11 Experience. At least 1 year of creditable experience at next lower grade level Demonstrated KSAs. Candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Ability to adapt assessment tools & treatment interventions to address diagnosis or disability complexity & demonstrate clinical reasoning necessary to identify need for more in-depth specific function assessment & unconventional method & technique utilization 2) Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals & consults & apply all health & safety regulations to minimize/mitigate patient care risks in care environment 3) Skill in effectively & concisely communicating & educating patients, families, caregivers & other health care staff to facilitate interdisciplinary treatment process 4) Skill in independently using appropriate screening & 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 & function 5) Skill in independently applying evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions 6) Knowledge of principles & techniques in recreation therapy assessment & treatment of recreation, leisure & biopsychosocial functional deficits Preferred Experience: 3-5 year of experience as a Recreational Therapist in a complex setting such Spinal Cord Injury. Background in working on an interdisciplinary team in particular within an inpatient setting. Reference: Please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for more information on this qualification standard Vacancy full performance level is a GS-11. Applicants may be selected for a GS-7 to a GS-11 grade for this vacancy Physical Requirements: Regular & recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, twisting & moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled patients & assisting patients in ambulation & w/ wheelchair mobility Requires specific, common physical characteristics & abilities, such as above average agility & dexterity & skill & ability in recreation & leisure activities, maneuvering wheelchairs & driving wheelchair accessible vehicles Work is primarily very active in nature w/ some sedentary work involved when performing administrative tasks using computer, mouse & keyboard May be exposed to infectious diseases & be required to respond to medical emergencies Must possess & maintain state vehicle driver's license Must be able to pass & maintain Basic Life Support certification Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.
