Therapy Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Tuskegee, AL

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Recreational Therapy Assistant (RTA) for assigned patient care programs and assists in developing, organizing, administering, assessing, and documenting therapeutic treatment interventions and patient responses. Programs may include the Community Living Center, Domiciliary Program High Intensity Psychiatric Unit, and outpatient mental health programs. The assistant supports patients with mental health, substance abuse, and rehabilitative conditions, who may also have multiple medical concerns. The role focuses on helping restore mental and physical function and supporting patients’ highest attainable degree of self-help and independence within the limits of their disabilities.

The position involves assessing patients’ functional levels, physical, emotional, mental, and social limitations, needs, skills, aptitudes, and interests. The assistant implements recreation therapy treatment plans and coordinates interventions with other treatment to achieve patient goals. Assigned cases may involve severe or multiple disabilities, multiple diagnoses, or significant medical complications and may require creative, flexible, and adapted approaches. The assistant observes and reports patient responses to treatment, administers therapeutic recreation interventions, and performs administrative duties.

Work schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may require evening and holiday work. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized; no Critical Skills Incentive is approved, and Permanent Change of Station is not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement for current or former federal employees applying for a GS-6 position: 52 weeks at GS-5, when applicable.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression, such as implementing recreation therapy treatment plans, instructing on recreation therapy programs, or providing status reports; knowledge of equipment, materials, and supplies used in treatment procedures supporting specialized recreation therapy and rehabilitation treatments.
• Meet the Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant Series 0636 individual occupational requirement through qualifying specialized experience, such as assisting in a specialized therapy or in patient care, social work, or psychology with actual participation in physical medicine and hospital or clinic activities; alternatively, applicable education and training may qualify at the specified lower grades.
• Submit transcripts if relying on education to qualify; education must be from an appropriately accredited institution and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding and acceptable identity documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel employee.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Assist recreation therapists in designing, planning, and implementing therapeutic interventions and routines to maintain or improve patients’ physical or mental health.
• Evaluate patients’ functioning, physical, emotional, mental, and social limitations, needs, skills, aptitudes, and interests.
• Adapt treatment approaches and procedures for patients with severe or multiple disabilities, multiple diagnoses, or significant medical complications.
• Implement recreation therapy treatment plans and integrate interventions with other treatment to achieve patient goals.
• Observe and assess patients’ reactions to treatment and report them to the treatment team.
• Administer therapeutic recreation interventions to strengthen muscles debilitated by aging, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke, wound care, or joint replacement.
• Assist in developing, organizing, administering, assessing, and documenting therapeutic interventions and patient responses.
• Perform administrative duties.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits eligibility depends on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.
• Potential credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service may be requested and approved before appointment to determine annual leave accrual; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed