Recreation Therapist

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

18d

About The Position

The Recreation Therapist assesses, develops, and implements treatment plans for individual patients in an acute care medical setting, with goals directed toward physical, psychosocial, and cognitive rehabilitation. The position serves patients with complex medical conditions at the Clinical Research Center.

The therapist conducts comprehensive assessments, provides individual and group treatment, and plans and carries out treatment involving complex therapeutic objectives and specialized skills. The role may involve devising or adapting equipment for severely disabled patients, using motivational techniques to encourage participation, and creating treatment plans based on physician referrals, patient assessments, and medical records. The position requires a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential and qualifying education and experience or graduate education.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or proof of U.S. national status by the announcement closing date.
• Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in therapeutic recreation, art therapy, drama therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy; alternatively, a bachelor’s or higher degree in a related field with therapeutic emphasis or concentration, including at least 36 therapeutic course hours: 18 semester hours in therapeutic recreation and 18 semester hours in a combination of abnormal psychology, human anatomy and development, disabilities, and general recreation.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level performing the listed recreation therapy assessment, treatment planning and delivery, evaluation, collaboration, counseling, and individual and group treatment duties; alternatively, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or a related-field doctoral degree, or a qualifying combination of postgraduate education and experience.
• Must hold Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credentials through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
• Submit transcripts or a 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 if selected.
• Complete a background investigation, qualification verification, onboarding forms, required documentation, and other job-related requirements.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be able to perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to lift and move items weighing 45 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Position has on-call or call-back requirements.
• Position is emergency essential and requires availability to report for duty under all circumstances, including holidays and government closures.

Nice To Haves

• The NIH may repay certain outstanding federally insured student loans to facilitate recruitment and retention, based on organizational need, case justification, and budget limitations.
• Applicants may be eligible for a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications or a special need of the Government, subject to approval.

Responsibilities

• Assess each patient comprehensively, including strengths, limitations, and functional abilities.
• Analyze assessment data and conduct clinical assessments.
• Provide individual and group recreation therapy treatment.
• Plan and deliver 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 referrals, assessments, and medical records.
• Evaluate patient progress with recreation therapy.
• Collaborate with other therapists to identify alternative treatment options.
• Provide counseling and education to patients and their families.
• Follow the Assess, Plan, Implement, Evaluate, and Document (APIED) process.
• Meet emergency-essential availability requirements, including reporting for duty under all circumstances.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Possible repayment of certain outstanding federally insured student loans, determined case by case.
• Potential salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications or Government need, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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