Recreation Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Birmingham, AL

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Recreation Therapist (Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) assesses, plans, and facilitates recreation and leisure activities, sports skill development, and opportunities that reinforce treatment programs provided by the Blind Rehabilitation Center's therapeutic staff. The therapist provides individualized direct services to Veterans, including assessments, skill development, exploration of new or adapted activities, community reintegration, and resource development. The role works closely with the interdisciplinary treatment team and patients’ families or caregivers to coordinate treatment focused on each Veteran’s goals and needs.

The therapist develops treatment plans, intermediate- and long-term goals, and objectives; plans therapeutic activities to address emotional stress and promote successful community re-entry; and documents treatment, progress, responses, and discharge planning in the medical record and CPRS. The position coordinates community-based, recreation, sports, and fitness activities and provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling needed to support therapeutic participation.

The work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. This is a GS-11 position.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For the standard education pathway, hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure and an option or emphasis in therapeutic recreation; the degree must be approved by the NCTRC.
• Alternatively, hold a bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and be a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS); the degree must be approved by the NCTRC, and certification cannot be waived under this pathway.
• Be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC.
• For GS-11, have at least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrate ability to adapt assessments and treatment interventions to complex diagnoses or disabilities, use clinical reasoning to identify when further assessment is needed, and use unconventional methods and techniques when appropriate.
• Demonstrate knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults and apply health and safety regulations to mitigate risks in patient care and the care environment.
• Demonstrate clear and concise communication and education skills with patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to support interdisciplinary treatment.
• Demonstrate skill in independently using screening and evaluation techniques for direct patient care, including recommendations for recreation therapy assistive devices and their fit and function.
• Demonstrate skill in independently applying evidence-based and best-practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of recreation therapy assessment principles and treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.
• Complete a background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and online onboarding requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• Submit required application documents; foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education by a qualified private organization.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing community integration programs through established community partnerships, including inclusive opportunities, community resources, and community discharge planning.
• Ability to document clear and concise treatment goals, plans, goal-oriented interventions, and individualized progress or lack of progress toward treatment goals in the medical record.
• Experience planning and evaluating effective treatment modalities that address social, physical, cognitive, and emotional needs and align with interdisciplinary treatment plans.

Responsibilities

• Organize and distribute information about ongoing and available activities for Blind Rehabilitation Center inpatients.
• Help Veterans build confidence and skills to organize and participate in recreational sports, recreation, and leisure activities suited to their individual lifestyles, supporting independence and personal and social resources.
• Provide direct patient services, including individual assessments, skill development, exploration of new or adapted activities, community reintegration, and resource development.
• Communicate with interdisciplinary staff, including optometry, psychology, social work, and nursing, to help ensure Veterans' needs are met.
• Develop treatment plans based on client assessments and document information for Veteran staffing and program progress meetings in CPRS.
• Develop intermediate- and long-term goals and objectives with each patient in the assigned program.
• Coordinate treatment plans with the treatment team and the patient's family or caregiver to focus programs on treatment goals.
• Plan activities to diminish emotional stress and promote successful community re-entry.
• Coordinate activities with community-based service organizations and arrange sports and fitness activities as part of individualized treatment programs.
• Provide equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling to promote positive therapeutic activities.
• Conduct regular assessments and recreation, leisure, and sports diagnostic evaluations to determine appropriate therapeutic programs with the interdisciplinary treatment team and physician.
• Document treatment provided and the Veteran's progress and response to treatment in the medical record.
• Document discharge summary planning in the BRC Discharge Note in CPRS.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior