Recreation Therapist

The Recreation Therapist is assigned to Whole Health at the Thomas E. Creek Amarillo VA Health Services Center, serving the residents of the Community Living Center and assisting in outpatient services teaching Yoga and Tai Chi classes. Recreation Therapist provides treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. The incumbent must meet all criteria included in the qualification standards.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 13, 2027. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 22, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Duties include but not limited to: Administers recreation therapy and recreation assessments and develops individualized treatment plans and interventions with knowledge of symptoms of diagnosis in the provision of recreation therapy based on current literature and best practices. Provides assessment and recreation therapy interventions for Veterans with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Plans comprehensive therapeutic recreation programing meeting diverse needs of Veteran population in the Community Living Center. Plans recreation calendar, allocates staff and volunteers resources. Serves as recreation therapy subject matter expert and representative on interdisciplinary teams and provides education to staff, students, patients, families and caregivers about the benefits of recreation therapy and recreation treatment interventions and goals. Demonstrates understanding of recreation therapy and its effects on human growth and development, leisure development, diagnostic classifications, and symptomatology when developing recreation therapy interventions. Teaches Yoga classes in the Community Living Center (CLC) and outpatient settings. Must hold, at minimum, an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200 (E-RYT®200) registration with Yoga Alliance or hold an International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT®) certification (C-IAYT®). Temporary appointments of non-registered or non-certified Yoga Instructors will not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. Teaches Tai Chi/Qigong in the CLC and outpatient settings. Must be certified to provide tai chi or qigong instruction. Acceptable certifications must have required successful completion of a minimum30-hour tai chi or qigong instruction program. Temporary appointments of non-registered or non-certified Tai Ch/Qigong Instructors will not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment. Develops and implements quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. Collaborates and maintains effective communication with all patients, caregivers, interdisciplinary teams, medical center staff and community partners. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 0800-1630 Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. 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 dentification 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 Federal service. 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.