Recreation Therapist

Summary

The Therapist is assigned to the Mental Health at the Atlanta VAHCS. The incumbent provides clinical interventions through the application of established modalities, incorporating assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes. Clinical duties are performed independently with responsibility for applying a range of recreation/creative arts therapy treatment models to support Veteran recovery, rehabilitation, and wellness across mental health and related care settings.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: Assessment: Independently conducts comprehensive recreation/ creative arts therapy assessments to evaluate functional strengths and limitations across cognitive, physical, sensory, affective, social, and leisure domains. Reviews consults, clinical histories, and interdisciplinary notes to determine therapeutic needs and inform clinical decision-making. Utilizes standardized and non-standardized assessment tools as appropriate to the complexity of psychiatric presentations. Treatment Planning: Develops individualized, measurable treatment goals that promote recovery, meaningful leisure engagement, improved coping, increased motivation, social skill development, and symptom management. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to ensure treatment goals align with the Veteran's overall plan of care. Intervention: Plans, organizes, and leads structured recreation/ creative arts therapy groups and 1:1 sessions that address treatment goals identified in the assessment. Implements evidence-based and best-practice techniques to reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, promote behavioral activation, foster constructive self-expression, increase frustration tolerance, enhance social functioning, and build healthy leisure routines. Interventions may include leisure education, activity-based therapy, cooperative games, creative recreation, relaxation-based activities, sensory modulation, and skill-building leisure tasks. Therapeutic Engagement & Participation Support: Identifies barriers to participation and applies motivational, behavioral, and adaptive strategies to engage Veterans experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms or functional limitations. Safety & Risk Management: Applies all health and safety regulations during therapeutic activities to minimize clinical risk and ensure environmental safety, including monitoring patient behavior, selecting appropriate materials, and adjusting activities for individual needs and safety precautions. Documentation: Completes timely and accurate documentation of assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, encounters, incidents, and discharge recommendations in CPRS in accordance with VHA, MHSL, and Medical Center requirements. Communication & Coordination: Communicates clinical observations, functional changes, safety concerns, participation levels, and patient-expressed needs to other interdisciplinary team members. Provides recommendations regarding leisure needs, behavioral/clinical observations, discharge considerations, and community reintegration supports. Program Delivery & Adaptation: Posts and maintains, in collaboration with other team members, an ongoing schedule of recreation/ creative arts therapy and other activities and groups that reflects patient needs, therapeutic goals, and Veteran interests. Ensures required supplies, adaptive equipment, and safe activity materials are available. Modifies activities to accommodate functional, behavioral, or environmental considerations. Discharge & Aftercare Referral: Provides leisure-based education and relapse-prevention strategies to support healthy routines post-discharge. Refers Veterans to aftercare therapy, VA outpatient groups, or community-based leisure resources when appropriate. Administrative Functions: Adheres to MHSL, Medical Center, and VHA policies, including documentation standards; CPRS and network security requirements; Safety, Infection Control, Environment of Care, and HIPAA guidelines. Maintains therapeutic spaces that support a safe, organized, and recovery-oriented environment. Participates in program evaluation, quality improvement projects, and service-level performance initiatives. Monitors equipment, recreational materials, and supply needs; communicates procurement requests as appropriate. Participates in interdisciplinary meetings, treatment team rounds, safety huddles, and clinical consultations. Supports orientation of new staff or students as assigned and contributes to team cohesion and communication. Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the Recreation Therapist GS-11 qualification standard and the needs of the Acute Mental Health program. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30 pm. To include possible weekends. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 508-62690F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

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/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/24/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13050832. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.