Recreation Therapist

<p>This positions are located at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (Chicago, IL), The Recreation Therapist evaluate the history, interests, aptitudes, and skills of patients by interviews, inventories, tests, and measurements. Therapists use such findings, along with medical records or therapy orders of physicians or nurse practioners to develop and implement therapeutic interventions for individual patients.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>PATIENT FOCUS: Respects all Veterans, their caregivers, and extended families by exhibiting sensitivity to their needs, tolerances, and individual differences including values, social backgrounds, and ethnic group. Effectively uses professional skill, objectivity, and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions. Communicates confidence in the patient's ability and facilitates therapeutic process and progress and maintains appropriate professional boundaries and provides appropriate recognition for growth. ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING: Conducts assessments using effective interviewing techniques and assessment instruments to obtain objective and information pertaining to the Veterans interests, preferences, aptitudes, abilities, barriers, goals, and clinical needs in recreation therapy. Develops a full range of therapeutic or palliative care interventions for a wide variety of inpatients and/ or outpatients and treatment plans integrate specialized recreation therapy techniques within the total care plan for the patient. Develops individualized treatment plans with therapeutic goals and objectives to meet the assessed needs of the patient to restore, remediate and rehabilitate to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. DEVELOPS AND PROVIDES EFFECTIVE CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS: Develops and provides effective clinical interventions that are consistent with the therapist's professional Scope of Practice, Standards of Care and Professional Ethics. Provides the necessary and/ or adapted equipment, materials, instruction, supplies, encouragement, and motivation to successfully engage with each patient in the therapeutic process and uses proper judgement in determining specialized approaches, appropriate therapeutic modalities, and the appropriate interval of treatment in administering clinical interventions. EVALUATES AND ADJUSTS TREATMENT PLANS INTERVENTION STRATEGIES: Documents the treatment rendered and patients progress in the computerized patient medical record CPRS and discusses progress with the treatment team and regularly reviews patient progress and adapts or adjusts the treatment plan and intervention strategies accordingly. PARTICIPATES IN HOSPITAL-WIDE OR DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMING: Schedules and conducts evening and weekend programming to support hospital wide and/or departmental objectives. Participates in the procurement of equipment and materials and may make recommendations for appropriate purchases; and also purchase supplies and materials for both their assigned units as well as for the departmental needs while maintaining education and training and regulations associated with purchasing. PROFESSIONALISM: Gives lectures on various treatment techniques, provides on the job demonstrations of treatment interventions, discusses, and plans individual patient treatment with students and describes treatment results with patients. Provide clinical training supervision of student interns and may supervise recreation therapy assistants and volunteers, as determined by the Recreation Therapy Supervisor/ Chief of Service. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 09768F; 09679F; 09770F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.<h3>Education</h3>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/.