Therapy Assistant

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: Incumbent serves as the activity Therapy Assistant for Recreation Therapy Service. The position is located at the Sam Rayburn Memorial Veteran Center, Bonham, Texas. The Organizational Location of the Position is: The incumbent serves as the Therapy Assistant for Recreation Therapy Service in Dallas, Bonham, and Fort Worth. The Primary duties to include Dementia Special Care Unit and other Therapy Assistant duties as needed.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/19/2024 to 05/03/2024

• Salary

$47,928 - $62,308 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 6

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Bonham, TX

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• Occasional travel to other sites within Veterans Administration North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. To include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0636 Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CAZM-12391828-24-CRW

• Control number

787661100

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent, employees of the North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) Department of Veteran Affairs and CTAP eligible ONLY!

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Duties

MAJOR DUTIES:

The major responsibilities of the incumbent's position are to assist with the planning, coordination, and management on a continuing basis, a recreation

therapy program for patients with various diagnoses. The incumbent plans and conducts a variety of general activity functions, to include but not limited to social activity, physical activity, table games, outdoor activities, spectator events, one to one activity, hobbies/crafts, and community activities. Group and individual games or socialization are used to attain group interaction and to encourage patients to gain a feeling of belonging. Individual activities are used for those patients not yet ready for group participation.

Incumbent directs the treatment of patients toward self-care, physical exercise, positive leisure interest, group interaction, in accordance with the medical team goals and directions. The incumbent supports and assists Recreation Therapist (RT) Volunteers in programming, scheduling, supplies needed and other details pertinent to the activity(s).

The incumbent develops and implements programs after receiving approval from the Assistant Chief/Service Chief or Lead Recreation Therapist. The Therapy Assistant is responsible for carrying out a full range of general (diversionary) activities and supporting therapeutic interventions. These activities address the therapeutic activity needs of the patients, utilizing appropriate motivational and leadership approaches. The incumbent completes documentation including leisure interest surveys, activity worksheets, and progress notes timely.

The incumbent independently supervises all general (diversionary) activity programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, Domiciliary (Dom), and Community Living Centers (CLC) extended care patients. Incumbent strives to maintain the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability.

The incumbent assists in maintaining the Recreation Diversionary Activity areas, offices, outdoor activity areas by performing periodic on-site inspections and reporting any problems. Incumbent manages all supplies and equipment used in assigned

area(s)/program(s) by inventory, storage, issue, service, and repair.

The incumbent applies principles and practices of Recreation Therapy and general recreation to plan and carry out an effective treatment program of recreation modalities to maintain physical and or mental rehabilitation of patients.

Working independently, the incumbent can take definitive and appropriate actions following accepted clinical practices and procedures and the treatment techniques utilized by Recreation Therapy Service.

The incumbent can identify physical, psychological, and emotional problems, limitations, and needs of the physically and mentally ill or disabled in terms of possible rehabilitation and constructive use of leisure periods.

The administering of social recreation programs, assisting volunteer organizations, overseeing leisure activities in designated recreation areas, supervising volunteers, operating motor vehicles, overseeing designated activities area all within the daily functioning of the Recreation Therapy Assistant.

Assists the Recreation Therapist in providing therapeutic avenues for expression, promotion of mental and physical health, and community integration into community living.

Plans, adapts, devises, and evaluates, along with the Recreation Therapist, the degree to which specific therapeutic activities and overall therapeutic services are meeting rehabilitation goals and objectives. Other daily functions include (1) giving instructions to patients and attending to their leisure needs during treatment; (2) making observations of patients progress and behavior and reporting information to appropriate health care providers, and (3) providing encouragement to patients receiving treatment.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. This schedule has tours of duty to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Therapy Assistant/PD007460

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/03/2024.

Individual Occupational Requirement: Do you possess the qualifying specialized experience include 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 a patient care, social work, or psychology where the duties involved actual participation in physical medicine and activities of a hospital or clinic?

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: assisting in planning and organizing community, team and individual activities; supporting therapists to administer recreation therapy services; assisting in working out treatment routines and modifying adapting treatment procedures; consulting with team members regarding patient care; documenting observations and outcomes in an electronic patient record; communicating orally to provide directions for activities; using judgement to determine whether the treatment is causing a negative or adverse effect on other conditions or behavior of the patient; modifies communication tactics to meet the participants mental or physical abilities; making activity accommodations for participants with disabilities..

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Activity Programming

• General Bus/Vehicle Safety

• Infection Control

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

Physical Requirements: In some assignments the work involves regular and recurring physical exertions such as prolonged walking or standing, sitting, bending, moderately lifting, driving motor vehicles, or moving supplies. The work is primarily very active in nature with some sedentary work involved when performing administrative tasks. Physical demands may include but are not limited to assisting patients in transferring to/from their wheelchairs, assisting patient by pushing them in their wheelchairs. The physical set up for certain activities requires the incumbent to lift and/or move tables, chairs, and equipment. The work involves irregular tours of duty to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.