Recreation Therapist Whole Health

• Independently completes complex evaluations and interprets a wide variety of patients physical and psychosocial level provides and progresses Whole health interventions/recreational therapy treatments as appropriate.
• Treats patients that range in age from young adult to geriatric who may experience complex medical or mental health issues.
• Utilizes various methods to evaluate and interpret specific physical and psychosocial problems and implements the appropriate therapy/interventions as necessary to teach new or compensating skills to restore patients recreational pursuits.
• Independently solves complex problems related to recreation therapy/whole health interventions adapts and modifies treatment plans activities and procedures as a result of changing medical conditions or because of a variety of severe physical and mental disabilities in order to meet the needs of Veterans with complex disabilities.
• Consults with patients their families and caregivers and educates regarding treatment interventions and goals in addition to any consideration involving adaptations to better ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
• Provides appropriate Recreation Therapy interventions in both individual and group-based sessions in outpatient inpatient and community living center settings.
• Documents patient care including assessments progress notes encounters consultations and plans and other reports in a thorough and timely manner according to facility policy.
• Serves as a subject matter expert to staff students and other healthcare professionals and serves as the Recreation Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed.
• Develops and coordinates an outdoor therapeutic recreation program. Modalities may include kayaking bicycling hiking fishing nature activities seasonal sports animal interventions and challenge course/team building activities.
• Provides leisure resources and opportunities to Veterans and their families.
• Establishes relationships with community organizations to build community partnerships that will give Veterans additional recreation/whole health opportunities after discharge from therapeutic programs.

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• 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.

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 30 2025 or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be October 31 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education.

• A bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure with an option &/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC);

• A bachelors degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university & 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.

• Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC.
  • Exception. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation therapist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 & GS-9 level.
  • Failure to Obtain Certification. Must actively pursue meeting the certification requirement starting from the date of appointment. Failure to become certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 occupation & may result in termination.
  • Loss of Credential. Recreation therapists who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may also result in termination.

• Knowledge of assessment tools & treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient.
• Knowledge to interpret & apply all health & safety regulations to minimize & mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care & environmental maintenance.
• Ability to effectively communicate & educate patients families caregivers & other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process.
• Knowledge to apply evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions.

• Ability to adapt assessment tools & treatment interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities & demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function & utilization of unconventional methods & techniques.
• Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals & consults; & apply all health & safety regulations to minimize & mitigate risks in the provision of patient care & the environment of care.
• Skill in effectively communicating & educating in a clear & concise manner with patients families caregivers & other health care professionals to facilitate the interdisciplinary treatment process.
• Skill in independently utilizing 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.
• Skill in independently applying evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions.
• Knowledge of the principles & techniques in recreation therapy assessment & the treatment of recreation leisure & biopsychosocial functional deficits.

1. Working in a CLC unit.
2. Program development.
3. Writing SOPs & SOWs.
4. Complementary therapies.
5. Ability to drive Veterans.