Recreation Assistant - Hospice

Summary

This position is located at the Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This position is for the Hospice Cottage which is organized around the needs and lives of Veterans who live there. Being a constant companion of the elderly is the purpose and responsibility of the recreation assistant. The duty of the recreation assistant is to protect, to nurture, and to sustain the elder, to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the environment, and for providing high quality care.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include: Provides services and interventions in the inpatient hospice setting that address the needs of the patient utilizing motivational approaches Addresses customers in a courteous manner that reflects favorably on the Medical Center and promotes pride and good will in self, service and the medical center Publicizes recreational activities, attracting and motivating participants Plans special events and federal holiday events for Veterans in the Hospice Cottage Maintains and requests reading materials, cards, games, etc. Prepares and serves food and beverages according to the number of servings required Delivers meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian Ensures all common areas of the residence, indoors and outdoors, are clean and presentable Answers patient/visitor questions Uses the ICARE Values in all aspects of the positions: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect & Excellence ServSafe food handler certification preferred Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday, 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. This is a full time position, with a 36-44 hour work week. Work Schedule varies throughout the week and various times of the day to include days, evenings, weekends and holidays (work hours may be further discussed during interview process) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Recreation Assistant - Hospice/PD80438A, PD80437A, and PD80436A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/02/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. 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. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement for specialized experience. Examples include: Group leader, counselor, or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps, local playgrounds, YWCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts 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, 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-04 level, you must meet one of the following: General and Specialized Experience: You must have at least 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. General experience is: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above, as well as: assisting in facilitating or supporting group or individual activities designed to promote engagement, socialization, or well-being (e.g., providing routine support, helping with daily needs, facilitating social interaction, offering emotional support, supporting or coordinating simple activities or events, or performing related tasks in health care, community, educational, or recreational settings); performing various administrative duties, such as housekeeping, food service, ordering supplies, maintaining a schedule/calendar; utilizing a computer to retrieve and/or enter data; and preparing a variety of correspondence. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required…

Education

Opening Date: July 15, 2026 Closing Date: September 30, 2026 - Extended closing date to December 2, 2026 First Cut-Off Date: July 29, 2026 Note: This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Qualified candidates will be referred as vacancies occur. Eligible applications received after July 29, 2026, will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until all positions are filled. Final application disposition will be completed at the end of the open period stated in the announcement. 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/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. The employee work assignment involves regular and recurring physical exertions, such as prolonged walking, standing, bending, reaching, stooping, climbing, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting, handling and operating various supplies and equipment needed by the service, lifting and repositioning patients, moderately heaving lifting (50 lbs. or less), moving equipment and procuring supplies, working in extreme temperatures, positioning Veterans, and assisting Veterans in transfer, and/or ambulation. The work requires specific, common, and physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity. Incumbent must be able to push Veterans in wheelchairs on level and incline ground. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing patient from falling. Most activities are rendered in the area to which the employee is assigned. At times, activities are c…