Recreation Therapist

Duties of the full performance level include but are not limited to:

Clinical:

• Evaluates establishes goals based on evaluation findings and develops treatment interventions.
• Implements and modifies as necessary treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimum outcomes.
• Perform documentation of patient care including assessments progress notes encounters consultations care plans and other reports as needed.
• Uses Recreation Therapy expertise for direct service delivery to patients.
• Acts as a subject matter expert to staff students and other healthcare professionals.
• Serves as Recreation Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed.
• In consultation with patients their families and caregivers Recreation Therapist shall educate as required regarding treatment interventions and goals in addition to any consideration involving adaptations to better ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
• Demonstrates ability and competency in treating patients that range in age from young adult to geriatric who may experience complex medical or mental health issues.

Administration:

• Adheres with Medical Center policies. Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures. Adheres to Medical Center ADP Security policy.
• Participates in the evaluation of equipment and supplies which affect their service delivery.
• Fosters and maintains a safe treatment area.
• Promotes effective communication with all patients caregivers treatment team members Medical Center staff and community partners.

Education:

• Maintains professional competence through participation in appropriate educational activities.
• Assists in teaching and providing learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns as required.
• Participates in staff orientation successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandatory trainings and in-service activities.
• Deliver treatment in compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) accrediting agencies and VHA directives.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm rotating weekends
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 39023F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• 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 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.

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.

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).
All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held including positive education and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed the following provisions apply:

1. Such employees may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
3. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
4. Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a recreation or creative arts therapist.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist:
  • A bachelors 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
  • A bachelors 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: Recreation Therapists must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC.

Grade Determinations:
In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

Recreation Therapist GS-7

• Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve in an entry level position as a recreation therapist. They work under the direct supervision of a recreation or creative arts therapist at or above the full-performance level or a designated supervisor in a clinical environment.

Recreation Therapist GS-9

• Experience/Education. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level or a masters degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreation therapist experience.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient.
  • Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care and environmental maintenance.
  • Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients families caregivers and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process.
  • Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve in a developmental position as a recreation therapist. They work under general supervision to perform work in a clinical environment. Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and work with guidance from higher level or supervisory staff to establish treatment procedures that are substantially adapted and applied for patients who are acutely ill.

Recreation Therapist GS-11

• 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
• Assignment. Employees serving at the full performance level function with independent judgment to administer and interpret recreation therapy assessments and utilize clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information. They conduct analyze interpret and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive sensory social affective physical and leisure).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The employee exercises some physical exertion when overseeing those activities which involve bending stooping and lifting moderately heavy items (up to 40 pounds). From time to time there is a need to assist a physically handicapped (e. g. to participate in recreation activities) patient.