Recreation Therapist

The Recreation Therapist is a vital member of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team at the Loma Linda VA Healthcare System. This role requires a skilled professional to provide treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services.

• Provides intensive case management services using Recreation Therapy interventions and services for patients.
• Develops, organizes, and administers Recreation Therapy programs and services in provision of therapeutic treatment for patients.
• Prepares a treatment plan for each patient based on the information in the providers referral, clinical record, assessment, and evaluation of the patient's condition.
• Serves as the subject matter expert concerning integrative and complementary treatments and modalities and how those modalities and treatments utilized by Recreation Therapy relate to addressing the psychosocial rehabilitative and maintenance needs of the patient.
• Participates in the overall patient treatment program.
• Provides routine documentation of patient participation, progress, and response and continuous monitoring of treatment plan and ongoing involvement of and consultation with the patient.
• Collaborates with other stakeholders and develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives.
• Recommends adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet a patient's assessed needs and preferences in Recreation Therapy.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

The following education requirements apply to the Recreation Therapist:

• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation.
• A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS).

Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

Exception: Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years.

Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated.

The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified.

Failure to Obtain Registration/Certification: In all cases, recreation and creative arts therapists must actively pursue meeting registration and/or certification requirements, starting from the date of appointment.

At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unregistered and/or uncertified recreation or creative arts therapist with the written requirement to obtain registration/certification, the date by which the registration and/or certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming registered and/or certified by the deadline.

Failure to become registered and/or certified within two years from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0638 recreation and creative arts therapist occupation, and may result in termination of employment.