This position is located within the Community Living Center (CLC) and assists in the provision of recreational activities for the residents under the direction of the CLC Nurse Manager and in collaboration with the Recreation Therapists. The recreation assistant provides opportunities for CLC residents to engage in normal recreational pursuits, as well as promoting a successful and well-balanced leisure lifestyle.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days the closing date of this announcement, 07/15/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. For this vacancy, employees under the GS pay system must have held a GS-3 or higher position in the last 52 weeks to be eligible for the GS-5 grade level. If you have not held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks, or are a Wage Grade employee, this requirement does not apply to you. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0189 Recreation Assistant occupational series.To qualify for this occupational series, applicants MUST have Specialized experience or Education as listed below: Specialized Experience: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities. Teacher's aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities. Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service. Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities. Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children). Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop. Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility. Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. OR Education: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. You may qualify based on one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA and YMCA clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, urban community centers, or resort recreational activities; Teacher's aide in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities; Aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service; Aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities, such as preparing activities calendars, maintaining attendance records, and providing information concerning schedules and activities; Summer aid in a State or national park, with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites, trails, picnic areas, nature and raft centers, and boating and fishing areas (e.g., demonstrating camping techniques and park safety, conducting nature tours, and overseeing farm animal areas provided for children); Sales or stock clerk in a recreation supplies and equipment shop; Aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property, and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; or as an Aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service, with duties such as setting up areas for games, tournaments, and other organized group recreational activities. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a 4-years course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in courses related to recreation or physical education. This education must have been obtained business or technical school, junior college, college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Creative Thinking Customer Service Decision Making Interpersonal Skills 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Responsibilities of the Community Living Center Recreation Assistant include but are not limited to: Plans, coordinates and implements various recreational activities to meet the physical, social, spiritual and emotional recreational needs and interests of residents. Develops monthly activities calendar with input form recreation therapists, residents, family members and staff. Develops and holds resident meetings and learning circles with family engagement. Provides transportation to outings/activities using facility provided vehicles throughout local community. Provides wide variety of activities such as: Exercise programs; Healing Touch and hand massages; music programs; baking, cooking and serving food; gardening; games; coordinating outings (lunches, dinners, sports activities, fishing, bowling, picnics); arts and crafts; birthday parties; intergenerational programs. Documents participation of residents in activities and outings. Responsible for meeting with residents and identifying appropriate activities for each resident in the CLC. Assists nursing staff in the care of residents. Provides daily living activities such as daily oral care, hair grooming, bathing, peri-care, dressing, nail and other related hygiene care. Set up, serve and assist residents with eating and maintaining a home like environment for dining. Turn, move and transfer residents with appropriate technique and lifting assistance devices. Prepare and transport residents for tests or discharge. Work Schedule: Variable days. 8 hour day shift tours. Schedule to be discussed with hiring manager. Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description/PD#: Recreation Assistant/PD70312A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Physical Requirements: Work requires the Activities Program Assistant to spend most of the tour (up to 10 hours per day) on his/her feet with intermittent walking, bending, pushing, and pulling. The work requires the Activity Program Assistant to be in good health and physically strong. The assistant may need to physically exert themselves in organizing the physical environment for various recreation activities and in handling the tools and materials of such activities, lifting up to 45 pounds (an effort is made to find assistance when the lifting of heavier objects is required). The employee is required to safely use mechanical devices and proper body mechanics for lifting. The use of a mechanical device is required for all lifting of residents. Work requires operation of a government motor vehicle to transport patients.