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Summary
The Therapeutic Recreation Specialist primary duty is to assess, plan and facilitate recreation and leisure activity, sports skill development and opportunities which reinforce the treatment programs provided by the Blind Rehabilitation Center therapeutic staff. The incumbent is responsible to organize and disseminate information related to on-going and available activities for the SBRC inpatients.
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Duties
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The Therapeutic Recreation Specialist's primary duty is to assess, plan and facilitate recreation and leisure activity, sports skill development and opportunities which reinforce the treatment programs provided by the Blind Rehabilitation Center's therapeutic staff. The incumbent is responsible for organizing and disseminate information related to on-going and available activities for the SBRC inpatients. The overall goal is to facilitate Veteran's development and increase confidence in their ability to organize and participate in recreational sports, recreation, and leisure time activities, as it applies to his/her individual lifestyle, and help the patients build the personal and social resources that will increase their independence. The SBRC Therapeutic Recreation Specialist does this by providing direct services to the patient (individual assessments, skill development, exploration of new or adapted activities, community reintegration and resource development). The incumbent is a part of the inpatient rehabilitation team and maintains close communication with all other members of the interdisciplinary SBRC staff, including optometry, psychology, social work, and nursing to ensure the needs of Veterans are being met.

• Develops treatment plans using client's assessment and documents for the Veteran Staffing and program progress meetings in CPRS
• Develops intermediate and long-term goals and objectives with each patient in his/her assigned program.
• Coordinates the overall treatment plan with the treatment team and patient's family/caregiver to provide a program that focuses on treatment goals.
• Plans various activities directed towards achieving such therapeutic objectives as diminishing emotional stress and promoting successful community re-entry.
• Coordinates a wide range of activities, including community-based service organizations and sports and fitness activities, in the development of individualized patient treatment programs.
• Provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity.
• Performs regular assessments, recreation and leisure and sports diagnostic evaluations to determine appropriate therapeutic programs, in conjunction with the interdisciplinary treatment team and physician.
• Documents the treatment rendered and the Veteran's progress and response to treatment in the medical record.
• Documents Discharge summary planning into the BRC Discharge Note in CPRS .
• Creates and develops all aspects of the disabled sports and fitness program.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:30am - 19:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD61721F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
Education
Have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. This degree is approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
OR
Have a bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university AND am a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). This degree is approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.
Certification. Required Certification

1. Recreation Therapist. Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived.
2. Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified.

English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements listed above, applicant must meet grade requirement for the position:
Applicants must have at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with current recreation therapy practice. Experience may be paid or non-paid employment as a recreation therapist in the health care field.
At the GS-9 level, Recreation Therapists serve in a developmental position. They work under general supervision to perform work in a clinical environment. They may: conduct patient evaluations; analyze and interpret leisure, cognitive, and motor skill assessment data to develop individualized goal, objectives, and treatment plan of care; develop and select interventions to achieve patient goals; review patient progress; adapt or adjust the treatment plan and intervention strategize; implement therapeutic interventions that support measurable functional outcomes; evaluate patient needs for additional, alternative or termination of services; document patient's behavioral observations, progress, functioning, and intervention outcomes; and develop collaborative services with other team members.
At the GS-9 level, the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are demonstrated:

• Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment for the diagnosis or disability of the patient.
• Knowledge to interpret and apply all health and safety regulations, to minimize and mitigate risks in the provisions of patient care, and environmental maintenance.
• Ability to effectively communicate and educate patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment process.
• Knowledge to apply evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.

Additionally, applicants must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment interventions to address the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilization of unconventional methods and techniques.
• Knowledge to independently interpret provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulations to minimize and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
• Skill in effectively communicating and educating, in a clear and concise manner, with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professionals to facilitate the interdisciplinary treatment process.
• Skill in independently utilizing appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care in areas such as, but not limited to recommendations for recreation therapy assistive devices, including fit and function.
• Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.

Preferred Experience: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS); Experience with: (1) Offers community integration programs in relation to established community partnerships to include inclusionary opportunities, community resources and discharge planning into the community (2) Ability to document clear, concise treatment goals, treatment plans, goal oriented interventions, individualized progress, or lack of, toward treatment goals in the medical record (3) Plans and evaluates a variety of effective treatment modalities to meet social physical, cognitive and emotional needs & align with interdisciplinary treatment plans.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides