Recreation Therapist

Full Job Description

The position is located in the Resident Services Directorate, Recreation Services Division, Recreation Therapy Section.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide therapeutic/clinical recreation services to the residents of the Home to enable them to have a satisfying, independent, leisure lifestyle through three domains of service: Rehabilitation/treatment, leisure education, and recreation.

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service.

One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

Applicants must meet one of the following educational requirements: Bachelors or graduate/higher level degree in therapeutic recreation, art therapy, drama therapy, dance therapy, or music therapy; OR Bachelors or graduate/higher level degree in a related field involving therapeutic emphasis or concentration that included at least 36 semester hours in therapeutic courses as described below: 18 semester hours of therapeutic recreation courses; and 18 semester hours that include a combination of abnormal psychology, physiology, human anatomy and development, disabilities and general recreation.

AND Specialized Experience for the GS-10: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience in evaluating the history, interest, aptitude, and skills of patients, and using such findings to develop and implement therapy activities for individual patients; AND Developing therapeutic recreation treatment plans for patients suffering from physical, emotional, and/or social dysfunctions relating to leisure; AND Revising treatment plans based upon changes in the intervention, diagnosis, and patient responses; planning and conducting adaptive recreational activities.

OR you may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree; or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree OR you may qualify by a combination of experience and education: To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100% percent.

Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

NOTE: Experience in activities or programs that did not require application of a knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of recreation therapy or one of the creative arts therapy specializations covered by this standard, and that did not involve the use of therapeutic approaches to maintain the physical and/or mental health or to achieve the physical and/or mental rehabilitation of persons, (e.g., Outdoor Recreation Specialist, Commercial Recreation Leader, Vocational Counselor, or other diversionary-type recreation specialist positions) is not qualifying for this series.

SPECIAL NOTE: Long-term care experience and/or interacting with geriatric patients is highly desired. Recreational Therapists will work in areas both indoors and outdoors.

Lifting boxes and equipment of up to 50 lbs. may be required for some groups and special events. Pushing residents in wheelchairs to and from groups on a daily basis is required.

Standing and squatting may be required for some recreation activities. Walking approximately 1 mile will be required to conduct Health Checks up to two times a week or as needed.

In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: For the GS-10, you must have been at the GS-09 level for 52 weeks Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.

Major Duties:

As a Recreation Therapist, you will: Develop, organize and administer recreation programs to provide therapeutic treatment to residents, with a variety of illnesses and disabilities to include but not limited to physical impairments, psychiatric, neurological and cognitive impairments.

Areas of need include: Long Term Care (LTC), Memory Support (MS) and Assisted Living Plus (ALP).

Assemble pre-evaluation data, interpret medical record information, and conduct mental and physical evaluation of resident in order to develop and implement a treatment plan.

Devise specific activities and routines to maintain or improve resident's general state of physical or mental health.

Develop therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities, which include psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, amputation, paralysis, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, and residents with multiple diagnoses.

Strive to minimize mental and physical deterioration, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of resident's disability.

Employ therapeutic objectives, which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered.

The therapist treats residents who have multiple diagnoses and other severe medical complications, which may require unconventional approaches to treatments and resourcefulness in devising effective methods and procedures.

Schedule resident for treatment and integrates Recreation Therapy activities with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for resident.

Frequently interpret and report to physicians with resident's reactions to treatment which have medical significance and diagnostic value.

Administer therapeutic recreation activity that strengthens debilitated muscles resulting from advanced age, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke, fractures, wound care and joint replacement.

Teach independent leisure and social interaction skills to those who are adjusting to change, experiencing psychiatric episodes, living with substance abuse, COPD, amputation, joint replacement, stroke, hearing loss, low vision, and severe Alzheimer's.