Recreation Therapist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Recreation Therapist to provide direct patient care to Veterans in a clinical setting. The role involves adapting assessments and interventions to address complex conditions, while coordinating with a multidisciplinary team and ensuring safety standards are met.

Applicants must meet education and certification requirements (bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or CTRS with NCTRC approval).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure with NCTRC approval.
• CTRS certification required if using the alternative education path.
• Education from outside the U.S. must be evaluated for equivalence.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care as a recreation therapist to Veterans.
• Adapt and apply assessment tools and interventions for diverse conditions.
• Communicate with patients, families and the care team to coordinate care.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations in the clinical setting.

Skills

Clinical assessment & planning

Interdisciplinary communication

Screening & evaluation techniques

Evidence-based therapy techniques

Recreation therapy knowledge

Education

Bachelors in Therapeutic Recreation (NCTRC approved)

Bachelors degree + CTRS certification

Job description

This is a direct patient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a Recreation Therapist, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities.

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: ( Submit documentation )

(a) 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).

(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 by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. program.

Certification: ( Submit documentation) Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived.

Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified.

Grandfathering Provision. 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.

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

Grade 11

(a) Experience: At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9).

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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: Preferred experience providing adaptive sports opportunities/equipment to Veterans/active duty with spinal cord injuries, ALS, MS, stroke, amputation and others.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019