Recreational Therapist - Senior Care

Job Title: Recreational Therapist Assigned to Senior Care

Supervised by: Director

Job Summary

Responsible for planning and implementing the unit’s therapeutic patient activities and assisting patients with daily living activities.

Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas

• Plans and implements the unit’s Recreational Therapy Program, including planning of daily events, special events, and providing in-services for other staff participating in the recreational therapy program.
• Conducts diversional therapy program including planning and coordination of all out-trips and arranging for guest speakers.
• Conducts recreational therapy group sessions, displaying good theoretical knowledge of group principles and good group techniques.
• Completes recreational therapy evaluations in a prescribed item frame of 72 hours, not including weekends.
• Participates in multidisciplinary treatment planning staffing.
• Displays good interviewing, assessment, and report writing skills.
• Completes progress notes in a timely and high-quality manner.
• Participates in the referral development process as a member of the Referral Development Committee.
• Treats patients as directed by Treatment Team and physician.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity.
• Assists with assessments, group, and individual treatment as directed.
• Adheres to general expectations for all employees in order that the program functions in an effective manner to meet the treatment needs of patients.
• Provides feedback to supervisor on an ongoing basis in regard to concerns, improvements, changes, etc.
• Identifies areas needing improvement and utilizes the facility performance improvement process. Actively participates in department processes as required.
• Responsible for educating patients and families on program issues, medications, diagnosis education, and documenting this education on the patient’s chart.
• Intervenes with patients who disregard, violate, and ignore unit safety rules. Reports and appropriately responds to any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit facility safety rules.
• Assists in placing patients in seclusion or restraints and observes restraint/seclusion precautions.
• Documents every shift on the patient’s progress in relation to their treatment plan.
• Exhibits excellent customer service at all times (telephone, visitors, patient interactions, other hospital personnel).
• Maintains recreational therapy supplies and equipment in an orderly and safe manner.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.

Requirements

Professional Requirements

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual education requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
• Attends staff meetings or reads and returns all staff meeting minutes.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.

Regulatory Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy.
• Current Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
• One to three (1-3) years of experience in Gero psychology.

Language Skills

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.

Skills

• Basic computer knowledge.

Physical Demands

• Normal hospital environment. Occasional bending, squatting, balancing, pulling with force, reaching above head, reaching above shoulder, twisting at waist, push/pull up to 5 pounds, lift/carry up to 15 pounds, lift from floor level up, lift from waist level up, and lift above shoulders/head. Standing for 1 hour per day, sitting for 2 hours, and walking for ½ hour per day. Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder/normal speaking voice. Have good manual dexterity. Have good eye-hand-foot coordination. Have clarity of vision.
• This position is a safety sensitive position pursuant to Amendment 98 to the Arkansas Constitution § 2(25). A safety sensitive position means any position in which a person performing the position while under the influence of marijuana may constitute a threat to health or safety. This position is therefore “safety sensitive” due to the fact it requires the following: performing life-threatening procedures; working with hazardous or flammable materials, controlled substances, food, or medicine; and a lapse of attention while working in this position could result in injury, illness, or death.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.