Therapy Assistant
What you'd do
This position is located in Recreation Therapy Service at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. This position serves as a Recreation Therapy Assistant (RTA) performing diverse clinical duties supporting the primary recreation therapist or creative arts therapist in carrying out treatment services for Veterans with complex medical, physical, behavioral, and/or mental deficits.
Major duties
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** MAJOR DUTIES: Independently plans and implements highly specialized and diversified treatment for patients whose physical and mental condition requires the application of nonstandard and standard treatment procedures and approaches. Makes frequent and extensive changes in procedures and approaches if needed to enable the patient to overcome disabilities and continue treatment. Incumbent modifies programs and adjusts schedules based on patient care priorities and specific needs that arise on a daily basis. Provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity. Maintains recreation therapy schedules and calendars. Independently adapts various treatment activities to meet the specific needs of individual patients. Coordinates escort of residents/patients to and from recreation therapy programs. Independently conducts recreation therapy programs at bedside, in the facility and in the community. Utilizes knowledge of various illnesses and disabilities to provide programming that is appropriate to the needs, interests and abilities of the population served. Assists individuals with physical disabilities (ambulatory or non-ambulatory) in getting into and out of the vehicle and around in the community environment. Assists the unit recreation therapist as needed. Assists recreation therapist in the development of patient assessments and treatment plans. Records workload in the Encounters tab in the electronic medical record within 1 business day of treatment. Evaluates resident/patient response to treatment and provides verbal reports to recreation therapists and other interdisciplinary treatment team members. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with one late night shift per week of 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and rotating holidays Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
What you need to qualify
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. For the GS-6 level Therapy Assistant, you must meet one of the following qualifications: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience assisting with recreation and/or creative arts therapy services that included employing therapeutic modalities. Note: Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. -OR- Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (recreation or creative arts therapy). NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -OR- An equivalent combination of specialized experience and post-high school education, as described above, that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours is creditable toward meeting this combination. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week and you must submit a copy of your transcript. 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/. Physical Requirements: Here is the text from the image: The 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 incumbent must be able to push wheelchair patients on level and inclined ground.
Before you apply
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