Recreation Therapist

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

19d

About The Position

The Recreation Therapist assesses, develops, and implements treatment plans for individual patients in an acute care medical setting. Treatment is directed toward physical, psychosocial, and cognitive rehabilitation. The role works with patients with complex medical conditions seen at the Clinical Research Center and provides treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and require highly specialized skills and knowledge.

Requirements

• Meet the U.S. citizenship or U.S. National proof requirement by the closing date.
• Complete a background investigation, qualification verification, onboarding forms, required documentation, and other job-related requirements.
• Meet all qualification requirements, including time in grade, within 30 calendar days of the announcement closing date.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Submit education transcripts or an eligible list of courses; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.
• Hold Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credentials through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
• Meet the education requirement with either a bachelor's or higher degree in therapeutic recreation, art therapy, drama therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy; or a bachelor's or higher degree in a related field with a therapeutic emphasis or concentration, including at least 36 therapeutic-course hours (18 semester hours in therapeutic recreation and 18 semester hours combining abnormal psychology, human anatomy and development, disabilities, and general recreation).
• Meet the additional qualification requirement through one of the following: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09 performing the specified recreation therapy assessment, planning, treatment, evaluation, collaboration, counseling, education, and individual/group treatment tasks; three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or a related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or a combination of post-graduate education and experience meeting 100% of the requirements.
• Be available for on-call or call-back requirements.
• Be able to lift and move items weighing up to 45 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive assessments of each patient, including identifying the patient's strengths and limitations.
• Analyze assessment data and perform clinical assessments.
• Provide individual and group treatment.
• Plan and carry out a full range of treatment for complex therapeutic objectives using specialized skills and knowledge.
• Devise or adapt equipment for treatment of severely disabled patients.
• Use motivational techniques to encourage patient participation in rehabilitation.
• Create and implement treatment plans based on physician referral information, assessments, and medical-record information.

Benefits

• NIH may repay certain outstanding federally insured student loans on a case-by-case basis, subject to organizational need, justification, and budget limitations.

What This Job Offers

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