Recreation Assistant - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration : Job Details

Summary This position is located in the Recreation/Creative Arts Therapy Service of the VA Medical Center in Queens, New York- St. Albans Campus. The Recreation Assistant supports recreation therapists by planning, organizing, advising on, and administering recreation activities and programs to restore, remediate, and/or rehabilitate functional capabilities for Veterans with injuries, chronic illnesses, and disabling conditions, under the therapist or supervisor's direction. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: The Recreation Assistant supports recreation therapists by planning, organizing, advising on, and administering recreation activities and programs to restore, remediate, and/or rehabilitate functional capabilities for Veterans with injuries, chronic illnesses, and disabling conditions, under the therapist or supervisor's direction. Duties will be performed under the supervision of the Chief of Recreation Therapy Service. Conducting individualized therapeutic activity interventions based on comprehensive patient assessments. Planning and carrying out individual and group activities for the rehabilitation of patients with physical and psychiatric conditions. Monitoring, ordering, and tracking inventories for recreational supplies and equipment. Reporting patient progress and overall leisure functioning to the recreation therapist and treatment team members. Perform other duties as assigned. Responsible for arranging and managing of various aspects of the Diversional Recreation Program. Monitoring, ordering, and tracking inventories for recreational supplies and equipment. Applies practical knowledge and skill in independently carrying out assigned duties in a variety of situations. Develops new techniques and approaches in order to create and maintain diversity and continuing patient interest, etc. Maintains close plans and coordinate the details of recurring activities, special events, outings into the community. Providing a positive impact on patient/client self-esteem, life satisfaction, confidence, and increased level of independence. Responsible for appropriate documentation including, initial interview, progress note and assessment, development of treatment plans and long and short-range foals, as well as interim notes. Attends recreation Therapy service staff meetings as required. Participates in service's in-service program. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 12:00pm to 8:30pm; some flexibility and rotating some weekends; 8:30am-5:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Recreation Assistant/PD06589A and PD06589-A Physical Requirements: The employee exercises some physical exertion when overseeing those activities, which involve bending, stooping and lifting moderately heavy items (up to 40 pounds). From time to time, there is a need to assist a physically handicapped (e. g. to participate in recreation activities) patient. The program involves everyday risks of discomforts, which require normal safety precautions typical of various recreation activities for older persons. Work areas are adequately lit, heated, and ventilated. 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, 11/12/2024. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 or equivalent. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6 or equivalent. 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 and/or education as described below: Individualized Occupational Requirements Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities. Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities. Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service. Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities. Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children). Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop. Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility. Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. In addition to the IOR above the candidate must meet the grade requirements listed below. GS-6 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Utilizes Microsoft (MS) Office or equivalent software to include; MS Word or comparable word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text; formatting letters, reports and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail; MS Excel or other comparable spreadsheet software to develop and change spreadsheets in order to graphically display data and MS PowerPoint or other comparable graphics software to develop presentation materials. GS-7 Grade Requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Knowledge gained through relevant experiences which enables the employee to competently and independently carry out continuing recreation projects or programs through proper application and principles, concepts, and techniques of recreation to the specific needs at hand, in this case, those of psychotic, depressed young and aged veterans. Utilizes broad practical knowledge of disabilities and their implications for participation in the various forms of recreation therapy. Exercised understanding of human behavior, from normal to abnormal, as well as contraindications and the precautionary measures necessary in the event of emergency situations and takes appropriate preventative action. Knowledge of the range of activities and services of participant interests and needs, and of the methods and processes involved in a typical and conventional recreation program, which knowledge enables the employee to plan and conduct a variety of recreation activities and services for adults. Skills in the application and utilization of such knowledge in planning and carrying out a recreation program in this specialty area which meets, as fully as possible, the needs of the participating veteran population. Knowledge of hospital policies and procedures, including those which pertain to patient confidentiality; and documentation of patient progress in patient charts. Broad practical knowledge of disabilities and understanding of human behavior. Skill on the effective management of the physical resources available to the recreation program. Knowledge of community based organizations, their philosophies; availability; and ability to engage them in programs. Knowledge of safety rules and regulations applicable to the various activities both on and off station, and ability to implement them. Ability to follow emergency procedures; and ability to provide preventive measures. Ability to instruct volunteers in hospital policy and procedure, and ability to supervise volunteers in a variety of activities. Knowledge of equipment needs, and ability to plan for and other appropriate supplies; OR Education: One full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position meets the requirements for GS-7; OR Combination of Experience and Education: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Communication Learning Patient Care Technical Competence 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. Technical & Medical Support Positions 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. Education Transcripts required if basing qualifications on education. Additional Information 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.