Recreation Therapist

<p>The incumbent is responsible for overall strategic planning and implementation of the comprehensive recreational therapy program for complex Veterans with multiple mental health diagnosis. Treatment planning and therapeutic interventions are based upon the assessment of Veterans strengths, needs and weaknesses and are designed to enhance/restore leisure functioning and promote community reintegration.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Major duties include but are not limited to: They conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered, the therapist constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues. They review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Recommend adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. Designs individualized treatment interventions to reduce stress, anxiety, and maladaptive behaviors; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community in a productive manner. Provides individualized, unique, effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to: assistive technology; cognitive behavioral skills; aquatic therapy; fitness and wellness; community accessibility/reintegration/transition; and adapted sports and leisure development. Leisure education / creative arts activities will be designed for inpatient and residential Veterans who can participate. The Recreational Therapist uses effective interviewing techniques to obtain objective and information pertaining to the veteran's interests and aptitudes. The Recreation Therapist is administratively accountable for planning and implementation of all recreational activities. The Recreation Therapist is administratively accountable for planning, documentation, and implementation of all recreational activities. The work involves applying various recreational activities to improve, restore, or maintain the physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, and leisure functioning of individuals. The Recreation Therapists help patients to develop the skills needed to support functional independence for community living and to promote a higher quality of life. The incumbent is responsible to manage the resources assigned to Recreation Therapy Department. Work Schedule: Can be discussed/negotiated during the interview. Telework: Ad-hoc, Situational at supervisors discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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 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. Driving License Requirement: Unrestricted driver's license is required. Must provide a clean driving record report from the DMV during onboaring. Physical Examination: A driver's physical is required for this position. 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/.