Recreation Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Columbus, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Recreation Therapist is assigned to Social Work and Integrated Care at the Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic. The position provides treatment interventions through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. It supports Whole Health, Medical Foster Home, Physical Medicine, the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic, Community Residential Care, the pain program, and other programs.

The therapist evaluates patients, establishes goals based on evaluation findings, develops treatment interventions, and implements and modifies treatment plans as needed to support optimal outcomes. The position delivers direct recreation therapy services, serves as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and other healthcare professionals, and represents Recreation Therapy on interdisciplinary teams. The therapist treats patients ranging from young adults to geriatric patients who may have complex medical or mental health issues.

Administrative duties include following Medical Center policies and ADP procedures and security requirements, participating in the evaluation of equipment and supplies, maintaining a safe treatment area, and communicating effectively with patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff, and community partners. The therapist maintains professional competence through educational activities, supports clinical intern learning, participates in staff orientation and required training, and delivers treatment in compliance with VHA directives and accrediting agency requirements.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling and ad-hoc telework may be available at the discretion of service leadership. This is not a virtual position. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-7 through GS-11. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A bachelor's degree or higher with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure with an option or emphasis in therapeutic recreation, with a degree approved by NCTRC; alternatively, a bachelor's degree or higher in any field and CTRS certification, with the degree approved by NCTRC.
• Certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), except for the stated temporary appointment exception at GS-7 or GS-9 for eligible applicants.
• For GS-9: at least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade, or a master's degree in recreation therapy in place of the required year of professional experience; demonstrate knowledge of assessment tools and treatment, health and safety regulations, patient and caregiver education and communication, and evidence-based and best-practice therapeutic techniques.
• For GS-11: at least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade; demonstrate the specified KSAs in adapting assessments and interventions for complex conditions, interpreting referrals and applying safety regulations independently, communicating and educating effectively, independently screening and evaluating for direct care including assistive-device recommendations, applying evidence-based techniques, and applying recreation therapy assessment and treatment principles.
• Meet applicable selective service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successfully complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Meet applicable education-recognition requirements; foreign education used to qualify must be supported by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients, establish goals based on evaluation findings, and develop treatment interventions.
• Implement and modify treatment plans and goals as needed throughout treatment to support optimal outcomes.
• Deliver direct recreation therapy services to patients.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and other healthcare professionals.
• Represent Recreation Therapy on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed.
• Treat patients from young adult to geriatric age who may have complex medical or mental health issues.
• Adhere to Medical Center policies and use ADP systems in accordance with established procedures and security policy.
• Participate in evaluating equipment and supplies that affect service delivery.
• Foster and maintain a safe treatment area.
• Promote effective communication with patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff, and community partners.
• Maintain professional competence through appropriate educational activities.
• Assist with teaching and learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns as required.
• Participate in staff orientation, mandatory Medical Center training, and in-service activities.
• Deliver treatment in compliance with VHA accrediting agencies and VHA directives.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Selected applicants may request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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