Recreation Therapist

Summary

The Recreation Therapist at the Tucson VA Medical Center’s SW Blind Rehabilitation Center develops and delivers therapeutic recreation programs for patients with visual impairments. The role includes conducting recreation and leisure assessments, creating individualized treatment plans, and implementing interventions that support rehabilitation goals. The therapist uses recreation therapy principles to help improve patients’ functional abilities, independence, and overall quality of life.

Duties

• The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Evaluates, establishes goals based on evaluation findings, and develops treatment interventions.
• Implements and modifies as necessary treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimum outcomes.
• Performs documentation of patient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports as needed.
• Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures.
• Adheres to Medical Center policies and Medical Center ADP Security policy.
• Participates in the evaluation of equipment and supplies, which affect their service delivery.
• Fosters and maintains a safe treatment area.
• Promotes effective communication with all patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff and community partners.
• Maintains professional competence through participation in appropriate educational activities.
• Assists in teaching and providing learning experiences for Recreation Therapy clinical interns as required.
• Participates in staff orientation, successfully completes Medical Center assigned mandatory trainings, and in-service activities.
• Other duties include clinical training of recreation therapy students, work-study students and volunteers and completion of various tasks in the department.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S.
• Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 identification 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Required Documents

Prepare the documents below before applying. Always confirm the exact requirements on the official announcement, since they vary by position:

• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Curriculum Vitae (CV) Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).