This Recreation Therapist position is in Sensory and Physical Rehabilitation Services (SPRS) at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems, located at the Augusta, ME location.
The Recreation Therapist (RT) provides evaluation and treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction. The RT administers and monitors therapeutic interventions based on goals developed in the evaluation of the patient.
The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out within the medical center and the community including various clinical, administrative, and patient care areas associated with SPRS. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Administers, scores, or interprets a variety of creative and motor skills tests. Evaluates the assigned veteran's mental, emotional, social, and physical capabilities to determine their needs in recreation therapy.
Administers mental and physical tests for those with severe or multiple diagnoses. Maintains professional competencies in testing procedures and practices and introduces new methods as appropriate. Guides recreation therapy assistants in observational skills as they informally assess and reassess Veteran's in their care. Uses effective interviewing techniques to obtain objective and information pertaining to the Veteran's individual interests and aptitudes.
Observes the Veteran during trial assignments to confirm initial assessment. Coordinates the overall treatment plan with the treatment team and Veteran's family/caregiver to provide a program that focuses on treatment goals. Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team recommending treatment objectives. Plans various activities directed towards achieving such therapeutic objectives.
Provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity. Coordinates a wide range of activities with other services in the development of appropriate treatment programs. Documents the treatment rendered and the Veteran's progress and response to treatment in the medical record. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday - Friday: 8:00am-4:30pm with occasional weekend/holidays.
Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PDF04465, PDF04466, and PDF03110 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 not a Bargaining Unit position.
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 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.
*** Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements, in effect at the time of reentry, as a recreation or creative arts therapist.
mitzi.obi@va.gov · 207-414-2667
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $50460 – $97087/yr.
Applications close on 2026-11-09.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-19 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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