Recreation Therapist

This position is located in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), Recreation Therapy (RT) section at the Durham VA Health Care System. The position will serve the residents of the Community Living Center and assist in outpatient services. Therapist provides treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services.

• Receives consults and conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure)
• Constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues
• Conducts ongoing evaluations of therapy results and modifies, redirects, adjusts, and augments treatment plans as indicated by each patient's response and progress in the light of each patient's physical, emotional, mental and social needs; skills, aptitudes, abilities and interests
• Provides a considerable variety of therapy services as both adjunctive and primary therapeutic services, depending on the need
• When serving on multidisciplinary treatment teams, therapists use professional knowledge and skills in the integration of recreation therapy into overall team treatment plans
• Exercises resourcefulness in providing individualized, unique effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions
• Evaluates patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services and monitor effectiveness of intervention plans and makes modifications, as needed
• Determines effectiveness of protocols, modalities and programs for targeted groups through quantitative analysis and identifies potential risks and need for adaptive interventions with cases to facilitate improved bio-psychosocial well-being
• Participates in co-treatment opportunities including but not limited to: neurological rehabilitation; mental health recovery programs; and palliative care related to the symptoms of a terminal illness
• Documents clearly and concisely the findings of initial evaluation, treatment interventions, re-evaluations, and discharge notes in accordance with PM&RS procedures and DVA policy
• Enters Return To Clinic Orders in the computerized patient medical record, (CPRS) in order to comply with established scheduling requirements and ensure that veterans are served in a timely manner
• Gives lectures on various treatment techniques and provides on-the-job demonstrations of treatment interventions
• Responsible for establishing the policy and procedures for patient participation in all National Veterans Programs
• Makes the final determination of whether patient will participate in National Programs based on medical status, behavior and compliance in registration and preparation process
• Responsible for all pre-event preparations, including meetings, ensuring patients complete application in a timely manner, and coordinating and maintaining an open line of communication with National Team for National Program
• Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: 8am - 430pm
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Must be a US citizen.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist:
  • 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. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); OR
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.
• Certification: Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph 3b(1)(b), certification cannot be waived.

Grade Determination
GS-11: Experience. Must have at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Skill in independently applying evidence-based and best practice therapeutic techniques and interventions.
6. Knowledge of the principles and techniques in recreation therapy assessment and the treatment of recreation, leisure, and biopsychosocial functional deficits.

Will be required to drive patients around (Driving License and Employee Occupational Health Physical will be required)

Preferred Experience: At least 1 yr experience working in Geriatrics and Extended Care. 1yr of experience with completing needs assessments and evaluations for patients. Experience with treatment plans. Preferred completed BLS Training.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

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/.

• 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.