Recreation Therapist - EDRP - RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE

This position is eligible for theEducation Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibilityrequirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHAEducation Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is Friday, May 29, 2026. Additional applications will be referred as needed. (NOTE: Applications expire after 90 days. Please update application thru USAJobs if you wish to be reconsidered.) The incumbent is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating all clinical and administrative aspects of the activities associated with the Recreation Therapy program within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS)/Audiology Department of the West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS). The incumbent will practice Recreation Therapy primarily in the Community Living Center (CLC) and Veteran Healing Center (VHC) at the George H. O'Brien Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Big Spring, Texas. The incumbent may participate in temporary assignments throughout WTVAHCS as directed by the Recreation Therapy Supervisor, Chief, PM&RS/Audiology, or designee. The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert for Recreation Therapy programming for the CLC and VHC, in addition, evaluates patients, plans, establishes, and provides a full range of comprehensive treatment procedures designed to improve biopsychosocial well-being. The incumbent provides clinical supervision and guidance to the recreation assistants and recreation therapy assistants as necessary. Please note, the incumbent will be required to provide Recreation Therapy coverage as needed at all sites of care for the WTVAHCS. The incumbent will work one weekend a month, and Holidays as needed.Major duties at the full performance level include: Function with independent judgment to administer and interpret recreation therapy assessments and utilize clinical competencies to develop unconventional assessments and interview approaches to effectively elicit information. Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data based upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, effective, physical, and leisure). Incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered by the therapist constructs evidence-based recreation therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues, such as polytrauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spinal cord injury (SCI), substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness (SMI), and hospice/palliative carerequirements. Provide direct patient care and r