The Recreation Therapist is assigned to Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the VA Northern California Health Care System. The incumbent has skills in program development and administrative aspects of patient treatment and has knowledge and ability in diversified recreation therapy treatment services including however not limited to; community living centers, post deployment assessment and treatment, and comprehensive integrated inpatient rehabilitation program.
Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: 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, the therapist constructs appropriate and evidence based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues such as amputation, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiatric diagnoses, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, blind rehabilitation, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses.
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 therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Based upon the assessment data and in collaboration with other stakeholders, the therapist develops individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives including scope, duration, and treatment.
Recommends adaptation, modification, and/or assistive technology to meet the assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy.
Using activity/task analysis, behavioral interventions, and therapeutic procedures they design individualized treatment interventions to reduce stress, anxiety, and maladaptive behaviors, recover basic motor functioning, reasoning abilities, build confidence, and develop compensatory strategies to master critical life skills necessary to re-enter the community in a productive manner.
Sophisticated techniques/strategies used to improve or support clinical outcomes may include but are not limited to: develop positive patterns of behavior; relaxation and stress reduction; lifestyle alteration; social skills training; develop self-esteem; reinforce positive relationships; motor learning and training strategies; anger and pain management; identify risks; recovery support; lifestyle adjustment; conflict/problem resolution; adjustment to disability, including coping with grief and loss.
Provides interventions in or around assigned location and includes community integration efforts off station. Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, 08:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 11754F
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/.
corina.marquez@va.gov · 415-221-4810 X24039
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $93358 – $121371/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-26.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-16 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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