Summary These positions are located within the Social Work Service at the Battle Creek VA Healthcare System. The position will serve as the therapy assistant (TA) for the assigned patient care area/program(s). Therapy Assistants (TA) work in a variety of programs throughout the system, including but not limited to Inpatient Mental Health, Outpatient Mental Health, Community Living Center, Residential Rehabilitation Programs, Blind Rehabilitation, Medical Foster Home and a variety of other areas of care. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Completes a preliminary review of specific patients being served, assists in compiling patient information and data, determining patient needs, and collaborates in the development, planning, and coordination of clinical therapeutic recreation programming. Carries out a full range of Therapeutic Recreation Services inclusive of recreation treatment modalities and general recreation (diversional) activities. Works with patients who have a variety of illnesses, diseases and /or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment. Provides patient care based on practical knowledge of the modalities used in therapeutic recreation. Assists in the development of specific activities and routines to maintain or improve patient's general state of physical and/or mental health based on the therapeutic recreation assessment. Modifies techniques and develop innovative approaches as necessary to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals are met in non-complex cases. Transports and/or escorts patients in support of community re-integration programs, provides instruction on expectations and observes patients for unpredictable behavior. Physically assists those in need of assistance in getting into and out of vehicles. Completes medical record documentation. Evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing recreational activities in assigned program areas from the standpoint of participant response, resources, unforeseen developments and program objectives. Completes all required workload, reports, and data entry per Service and Medical Center policy. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm, one evening per week & Sunday-Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm, one evening per week Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. DRIVER'S LICENSE: Possess a valid state driver's license. (Please DO NOT provide driver's license. We may not accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview). SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT) - A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) have been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT: Possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. (CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). ~AND~ IN ADDITION TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, DRIVER'S LICENSE AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR ABOVE, TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-6 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) in Federal Service, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Therapy Assistant, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work as an assistant to one of the specialized therapies such as occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy; or experience gained as an assistant or aid in patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic; and providing patient care based on practical knowledge of the modalities used in therapeutic recreation. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment ~OR~ EDUCATION: Have successfully completed six months of graduate education, or an internship meets the specialized experience required only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the Therapy Assistant position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Have equivalent combinations of successfully completed directly related graduate education and specialized experience to qualify. Physical Requirements: In many assignments, the work involves regular and recurring physical exertion, such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment, pushing wheelchairs, positioning severely disabled patients, transferring from bed to wheelchair and assisting patients in ambulation. The work requires specific common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity. The position requires physical fitness and swimming skills necessary to maintain certification as a Lifeguard. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for 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. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
