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Summary 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. Responsibilities 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. Requirements Conditions of Employment This opportunity is also open to Status Candidates under Announcement 25-AFRH-12735872. Please refer to that announcement for details on open period, eligibility, and how to apply. 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. The AFRH ethics program promotes the highest standards of ethical conduct for all employees. As a federal employee, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct, and the U.S. criminal conflict of interest statutes. As an AFRH employee, you will also be subject to the AFRH Supplemental Ethics Regulations which restrict the extent to which a AFRH employee can engage in certain activities and hold certain investments. Depending on your position, you may also be required to file a public or confidential financial disclosure report which must be filed within 30 days of your appointment as an employee of AFRH. Upon your new appointment, you will receive guidance regarding your ethics obligations. You will also be required to attend a mandatory ethics training within 3 months of your appointment. Please contact the Agency Ethics Officer (Joseph Pollard) at (202) 541-7557, or [email protected] if you should have any questions. Key Requirements: Please refer to "Conditions of Employment." Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National Qualifications You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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 at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the the GS-09 level in the federal service, that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience 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. Education 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. The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions. Additional Information We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. This is a bargaining unit position; LIUNA Laborer's International Union of North American FPS & PTE Local 572 CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: A one year probationary period may be required. Must successfully complete a background investigation. Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer. Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment. Selectees will be subject to the AFRH Tuberculosis Surveillance Program. Wear required safety clothing and/or equipment required by the position. This may include safety shoes, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, masks, etc. Because the AFRH's mission requires uninterrupted, direct human support and medical care for its Residents, this position is considered essential for continuing AFRH operations. Therefore, the incumbent is expected to arrive for duty on time, as scheduled, and to complete the assigned tour during emergency situations such as hazardous weather. Our comprehensive benefits are very generous. Our benefits package includes: Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards. Eleven paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 13 to 26 days of vacation time each year. Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire. A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods. We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums. A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions. Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay\_and\_Benefits