Summary The Therapy Assistant serves in Recreation Therapy Service, Associate Director Patient Care Service, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH. The Therapy Assistant may work in various areas throughout the facility including, Community Living Center, Medical Foster Home, Mental Health, Domiciliary, Polytrauma, and Spinal Cord Injury Center. Responsibilities ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited to: Administers and Evaluates Progress of Recreation Therapy Programs: Plans, implements highly specialized and diversified treatment for patients whose physical and mental condition requires the application of nonstandard and standard treatment procedures and approaches. Provides interventions one on one and small group activities, both on and off station. Makes frequent and extensive changes in procedures and approaches if needed to enable the patient to overcome disabilities and continue treatment. Modifies programs and adjusts schedules based on patient care priorities and specific needs that arise on a daily basis. Works independently due to the varied work schedules and patient programming need. Maintains recreation therapy schedules and calendars in their work area. Determines which most are suited based on the individual patient needs. Adapts various treatment activities to meet the specific needs of individual patients. Coordinates escort of residents/patients to and from recreation therapy programs. Conducts independently recreation therapy programs at bedside, in the facility and in the community. Documentation: Authors daily treatment notes in the patient medical record documenting the implementation and effects of the intervention such as but not limited to: identifying procedures provided, duration, frequency, outcome, progress/regress, goals, objectives, and response to recreation therapy treatment to provide the primary therapist and treatment team information needed to evaluate interventions and plan of care. Manages documents in the medical record recommended changes to patient treatment plan or changes in patient status/performance; note is reviewed by the therapist for general adequacy and for effectiveness in achieving objectives. Ensures documentation and procedures are completed in accordance with the Recreation Therapy Service policies and procedures and in compliance with The Long Term Care Institute (LTCI), The Joint Commission (TJC) and recreation therapy standards of practice. Assists With or Renders Treatment Based on Patient Needs: Assists recreation therapist with the planning and implementation of a wide variety of recreation therapy interventions to address patient treatment needs and treatment plans Therapeutic interventions may be complex due to the multiple disabilities encountered. Provides therapeutic programming for individuals and in the group setting. collaborates with the unit recreation therapist on implementing different interventions if current interventions are not producing results that are conducive to patient choice. Recognizes deviations in veteran's condition and takes appropriate action. The incumbent monitors patient's condition and records response to intervention, ensuring that this is made part of the permanent medical record. Administers the consult driven, individual, recreation therapy bedside program, exploring with assigned patients their interests, attitude, and motivation to participate in therapeutic interventions. Volunteer Recruitment and Supervision: Solicits support and involvement of volunteers in specialized programs. Follows up on activities involving these individuals or groups for confirmation, supplies needed and other details pertinent to the activity. Assists VAVS, civic and community groups providing support for recreation therapy programs and coordinates these programs in advance to make sure that they function without disruption. Provides support for special programs and assists with other collateral duties as assigned. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday 8:00am -4:30pm; 11am - 7:30pm, rotating holidays. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. and Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5 in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes work as an assistant to one of the specialized therapies such as occupational, physical, manual arts, corrective, or educational therapy; or experience gained as an assistant or aid in patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic. Applicants must be able to plan and carry out activities of direct patient care, such as therapeutic activities; using recreational materials/equipment to provide therapeutic exercises, and documenting patient response and progress. (Experience must be fully documented in your resume to receive credit. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.) OR Education: Successfully completed Six months (9 semester hours) of graduate education or an internship. Education/internship must be directly related to the position of a Therapy Assistant. (Transcript Required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.) OR Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of directly related graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualifications. (Transcript Required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Critical Thinking Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Interpersonal Skills Patient Care Technical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The Therapy Assistant position involves moderately heavy lifting of physically impaired patients while assisting with ambulation duties. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing or walking for prolonged periods of time and over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; frequent bending, crouching, reaching, stooping, and stretching or similar activities to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as bowling and sports equipment and repositioning patients; and pushing or pulling heavy objects. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapeutic procedures. The Therapy Assistant must be able to push wheelchair patients on level and inclined ground. The Therapy Assistant must be physically able to drive the station vehicles and pass the Occupational Health Clinic Motor Vehicle Operator Evaluation. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.