Recreation & Creative Arts Therapist

Summary The Recreation Therapist position functions in the Community Living Center (CLC). The mission of Recreation Therapy is to educate and coordinate leisure services that can be engaged while residing on the VA campus for care and treatment. Learn more about this agency Duties This position collaborates with program staff and guides and directs patient treatment to assist the veteran obtain optimal levels of functioning while maintaining highest level of independence. Veterans may have chronic diseases, long term disabilities, or medical, mental health, and substance use issues. The ultimate goal is to foster functional independence and improved quality of life. Recreation Therapists provide opportunities for clients to maintain some locus of activity and engagement in meaningful leisure activity within their environments. Major Duties Include: The Recreation Therapist is expected to assist, educate, and instill meaning and purpose to the lives of the Veteran clients through leisure services. Introduce life experiences to increase motivation and attitude, decrease depression and other psychological effects, increase participation beyond general activities by using a variety of techniques, including arts/crafts, animals, sports, games, use of adaptive equipment, dance and movement, drama, music, and the transportations to and the use of community resources. Assist with maintaining the client's independence within the residential setting. Be committed to a healthy environment. Foster an environment that supports hope. Support Veterans in achieving their personal goals. Be committed to eliminating barriers to leisure fulfillment. To value and respect client and preferences in this process. Contribute positively to the interdisciplinary unit teams. Administers, scores, or interprets a variety of creative and motor skill tests. Evaluates the assigned patients' mental, emotional, social, and physical capabilities to determine the patients' needs in recreation therapy. Uses effective interviewing techniques to obtain objective and information pertaining to the Veteran's aptitudes. Observes the patient during trial assignment to confirm initial assessment of Veterans' strengths and recreation needs. Establishes rapport and demonstrates effective interviewing skills with Veterans of wide variety of age groups, social backgrounds, ethnic groups, medical conditions, cognitive impairments, and psychiatric diagnosis. Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team recommending treatment objectives. Plans various activities directed towards achieving therapeutic objectives. Treatment is directed to such goal areas as sensory integration, leisure skills ambulation, reality orientation, or treatment of psychosocial dysfunction. Plans and provides diverse recreation activities and services in addition to the medically prescribed recreation therapy. Integrates recreation therapy techniques with the total rehabilitation plan for the patient. Utilizes the recreation therapy modality with individual/groups of patients having physical, emotional, and social disabilities. Provides the equipment, material, instruction, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity. Uses motivation techniques as appropriate with Veterans. Adapts equipment or activities to accommodate the unique needs of patients. Determines appropriate therapy modalities and interval of treatment in administering planned recreation activities for the patient. Conducts ongoing evaluations of the therapy results and modifies, adjust and augments treatment plan as indicated by each patient's response and progress. Discusses progress with treatment team, suggests adjustments to activities based on sound professional argument. Adjusts the treatment considering each patient's physical, emotional, mental and social limitations, needs, skills, aptitude and interests. Documents the treatment rendered and the veteran's progress and response to the treatment in the medical record. Work Schedule: Primarily day shift 0800-1630 M-F (evenings/weekends possible) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Obtain valid driver's license. Certification as Recreation Therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education Requirements:The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist, creative : Recreation Therapist: A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); OR, (b) A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved. OR A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived. Certification: Required Certification: Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 4b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilization of unconventional methods and techniques. Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. Skill in effectively communicating and educating, in a clear and concise manner, with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the interdisciplinary treatment process. Skill in independently utilizing appropriate screening and 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 and function. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits. Preferred Experience: At least one year of experience in recreation and creative arts therapy. Must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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 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. 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. 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. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.