This Recreation Therapist position is in the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), in Voluntary Services at the VA Boston Healthcare Systems, located at the Brockton, MA location. This position will oversee our Aquatic Therapy program.
The Recreation Therapist is a direct patient care position in which the incumbent is responsible for performing the work of a recreation therapist, performing aquatic therapy activities, and aquatic therapy program oversight, which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities.
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Must attain lifeguard certification, lifeguard training, certification, and aquatic therapy certification within 6 months of hire. Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure). Incorporating the four-step process of: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered.
Constructs appropriate and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues such as Polytrauma (TBI); Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Substance Use Disorder/Addictions; Serious Mental Illness; and Hospice/Palliative Care. Provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision.
Review recreation/aquatic therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Using activity/task analysis, behavioral interventions, and therapeutic procedures, design individualized treatment interventions. Determines effectiveness of protocols, modalities, and programs. Leads and oversees aquatic exercise groups, demonstrates proper use of aquatic equipment.
Must attain lifeguard certification, lifeguard training certification, and aquatic therapy certification within 6 months of hire. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday - Friday: 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PDF06046, PDF06045, and PDF06044 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure: Not Required.
Notifications: This position is in the excepted service. This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA Boston campuses and CBOC's. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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/. 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. Loss of Credential: A recreation or creative arts therapist who fails to maintain the required registration and/or certification must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.
MELISSA.KUMAR@VA.GOV · 802-295-9363 X6509
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $57150 – $109959/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-25.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
Apply on official site →