Recreation Therapist

About the role

This Recreation Therapist position is in the Sensory & Physical Rehabilitation Service at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare Systems, located at the Leeds, MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure).
• Incorporate the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, the RT constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical and or mental health issues such as Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; and Hospice/Palliative Care.
• Provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision.
• Review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Based upon the assessment data and in collaboration with other stakeholders, the RT develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration and treatment.
• Recommend adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet the assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy.

Requirements

The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

Subject to background/security investigation.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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 38 U.S.C § 7407 (a)).
• 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 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,
  • 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: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under the second Education option, 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.

Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification. In all cases, recreation and creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration and/or certification requirements, starting from the date of appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registration/certification, the date by which the registration and/or certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline. Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreation and creative arts therapist occupation, and may result in termination of employment.

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:

• Recreation Therapist, GS-7
  • Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Recreation Therapist, GS-9
  • Experience/Education. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level, or a master's degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for the required one year of professional recreation therapist experience
  • 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.
• Recreation Therapist, GS-11 Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: