Recreation Therapist

Applicants pending educational or certification/licensure requirements completion may be referred & tentatively selected but can’t be hired until all requirements are met Basic Requirements: US Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can’t recruit qualified citizens English Language Proficiency. Must be able to speak & write English Education. Following education requirements apply to recreation therapist, creative arts therapist, art, creative arts therapist, dance/movement, creative arts therapist, drama & creative arts/music therapist: a) Bachelor’s degree or higher from accredited college or university w/ a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure w/ an option &/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. Degree must be approved by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) OR b) Bachelor’s degree or higher in any field from accredited college or university & must be a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, CTRS. Degree must be approved by NCTRC. If hired under this education, certification cannot be waived Required Certification. Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by NCTRC. If hired under paragraph b, certification cannot be waived Exception. Non-registered &/or non-certified applicants who otherwise meet eligibility requirements for registration &/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as graduate recreation or creative arts therapists, under authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed 2 years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration &/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. Exception only applies to positions at GS-7 & GS-9 level. Grade levels at or above full performance levels, candidates must be registered &/or certified Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification. In all cases, recreation & creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration &/or certification requirements, starting from appointment date. At time of appointment, Supervisors will provide unregistered &/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist w/ written requirements to obtain registration/certification, date which registration &/or certification must be acquired & consequences for not becoming registered &/or certified by deadline. Failure to become registered &/or certified w/in 2 years from appointment date will result in removal from GS-0638 recreation & creative arts therapist occupation & may result in employment termination Loss of Credential. Recreation or creative arts therapists who fail to maintain required registration &/or certification must be removed from occupation, which may also result in employment termination Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as recreation or creative arts therapists, on effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series & grade held, including positive education & registration &/or certification that are part of occupation basic requirements. Employees who don’t meet all basic requirements in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: 1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to & including, full performance, journeyman level, or changed to lower grade w/in occupation but may not be promoted beyond journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions 2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis prior to qualification standard effective date may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet standard basic requirements 3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education &/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain required credentials as a employment condition in occupation 4) Recreation & creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision & subsequently leave occupation lose protected status & must meet full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at time of reentry as recreation or creative arts therapists Grade Determinations: Following criteria must be met when determining candidate’s grade in addition to basic requirements for employment GS-7 Experience/Education. None beyond basic requirements GS-9 Experience/Education. At least 1 year of creditable experience at next lower grade level, or a master’s degree in recreation therapy may be substituted for required 1 year of professional recreation therapist experience Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, KSAs. Candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Knowledge of assessment tools & treatment for patient diagnosis or disability 2) Knowledge to interpret & apply all health & safety regulations, to minimize/mitigate risks in patient care provisions & environmental maintenance 3) Ability to effectively communicate & educate patients, families, caregivers & other health care staff to facilitate treatment process 4) Knowledge to apply evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions GS-11 Experience. At least 1 year of creditable experience at next lower grade level Demonstrated KSAs. Candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to above experience 1) Ability to adapt assessment tools & treatment interventions to address diagnosis or disability complexity & demonstrate clinical reasoning necessary to identify need for more in-depth specific function assessment & unconventional method & technique utilization 2) Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals & consults & apply all health & safety regulations to minimize/mitigate patient care risks in care environment 3) Skill in effectively & concisely communicating & educating patients, families, caregivers & other health care staff to facilitate interdisciplinary treatment process 4) Skill in independently using 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 5) Skill in independently applying evidence-based & best practice therapeutic techniques & interventions 6) Knowledge of principles & techniques in recreation therapy assessment & treatment of recreation, leisure & biopsychosocial functional deficits Preferred Experience: 3 or more years experience working w/ SCI or MS patients. Experience working w/ patients in Inpatient & Outpatient settings. Experience w/ Adaptive Sports equipment. CDL driver’s license preferred Reference: Please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for more information on this qualification standard Vacancy full performance level is a GS-11. Applicants may be selected for a GS-7 to a GS-11 grade for this vacancy Physical Requirements: Regular & recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, twisting & moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled patients & assisting patients in ambulation & w/ wheelchair mobility Requires specific, common physical characteristics & abilities, such as above average agility & dexterity & skill & ability in recreation & leisure activities, maneuvering wheelchairs & driving wheelchair accessible vehicles Work is primarily very active in nature w/ some sedentary work involved when performing administrative tasks using computer, mouse & keyboard May be exposed to infectious diseases & be required to respond to medical emergencies Must possess & maintain state vehicle driver’s license Must be able to pass & maintain Basic Life Support certification
The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for one GS 7 target 11 Recreation Therapist.