Recreation Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Sioux Falls, SD seeks a Recreation Assistant (GS-4) to provide Veteran-centered care at the Hospice Cottage.

Responsibilities include assisting with daily living activities and supporting program operations in accordance with center policies to ensure comfort, safety, and quality care. English proficiency required; applicants must meet GS-4 qualification standards and may qualify via combination of education and experience.

Qualifications

• Six months general experience and six months specialized experience for GS-04.
• Substitution of education: two years post-high school with at least 12 semester hours in recreation-related courses.
• Combination of education and experience: related coursework and experience accepted.
• Note: transcripts required with application.

Responsibilities

• Provide Veteran-centered care to residents in Hospice Cottage.
• Assist with daily living activities to support comfort and safety.
• Adhere to established policies and procedures to ensure quality care.
• Participate in program activities and support services as directed.

Skills

Customer Service

Teamwork

Food Service

Food Production

Technical Documentation

Education

Two years post-high school recreation coursework

Job description

Incumbents provide Veteran-centered care to residents in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of those in the Hospice Cottage. The primary role is to protect, sustain, and nurture Veterans by providing assistance with daily living activities, and with other needs in accordance with established policies and procedures of the Medical Center to ensure the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times. Duty location: Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

English Language Proficiency: 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 meet the requirements of this position.

AND

Recreation Assistant GS-4 grade level, applicants must possess at least one of the following qualification requirements.

EXPERIENCE GS-04: Applicants must possess six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is experience equivalent to the GS-03 grade level in Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Qualifying specialized experience include: group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities; teacher's aide in elementary school recreation or physical education program; aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service; aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities; summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, boating and fishing areas, etc.; aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. Additional qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above, as well as assisting in facilitating or supporting group or individual activities designed to promote engagement, socialization, or well-being e.g., providing routine support, helping with daily needs, facilitating social interaction, offering emotional support, supporting or coordinating simple activities or events, or performing related tasks in health care, community, educational, or recreational settings); performing various administrative duties, such as housekeeping, food service, ordering supplies, maintaining a schedule/calendar; utilizing a computer to retrieve and/or enter data and preparing a variety of correspondence.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented within the resume to receive credit.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successfully completed 2 years of post-high school study that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation (e.g., basic psychology, group dynamics, physical education, arts and crafts, etc.).

NOTE: (Transcripts required with application)

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience. The education and specialized experience must be related to the position, as listed above.

NOTE: (Transcripts required with application)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Food Production
• Food Service
• Teamwork
• Technical Documentation

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The employee work assignment involves regular and recurring physical exertions, such as prolonged walking, standing, bending, reaching, stooping, climbing, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting, handling and operating various supplies and equipment needed by the service, lifting and repositioning patients, moderately heaving lifting (50 lbs. or less), moving equipment and procuring supplies, working in extreme temperatures, positioning Veterans, and assisting Veterans in transfer, and/or ambulation. The work requires specific, common, and physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity. Incumbents must be able to push Veterans in wheelchairs on level and incline ground. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing patients from falling. Most activities are rendered in the area to which the employee is assigned. At times, activities are conducted outside of hospital grounds or during outings into the community. The employee work assignment requires a current CPR certificate. The employee will perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They are subject to continuous standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and bending. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

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/