Recreational Therapist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for the provision of Recreational Therapy services, including assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic activity interventions and discharge leisure planning. U tilize individual and/or group activity interventions to bring about positive changes in the patient's behavior, such as cognitive, social, emotional or physical. E ducate the client in healthy coping skills and available leisure resources to continue the client in post-discharge leisure planning and involvement. Resp onsible for the provision of services according to the current standards of practice.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from an approved program.
• Certification by National Certification Board (NCTRC).
• Previous experience in psychiatric setting of 2 years (preferred).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establish treatment goals and objectives to meet individual needs of clients and determines the TR Modality by which the goals are achieved.
• Evaluates each client's progress and the effectiveness of therapy treatment, records results on daily progress notes and follows all documentation policies.
• Develop and apply clinical skills by interviewing and assessing client's level of functioning, observing patient participation in AT/TR Sessions and their response to the same.

Master Treatment Plan/Individual Treatment Plan

• Record behaviorally stated problems and interventions that are pertinent to AT/TR on the MTP problem list and Discharge Summary in a timely fashion.
• Involved in implementing individual treatment plans for clients using the interdisciplinary team approach.
• Display a professional and friendly attitude when communicating and working with other disciplines and outside agencies.

AT Didactic Groups

• Show initiative in implementing new treatment programs on an ongoing basis relating to any changes in the mental health field.
• Keep the Chief Nursing Officer appraised of any difficulties or necessary changes required in program or staff development trainings.

Safety

• Instruct clients in proper use of equipment and supplies used during treatment sessions - following appropriate protocol.
• Follow Center policy on patient precautions related to RT.
• Complete safety rounds check list.
• Prepare request for supplies and equipment used during treatment sessions - following appropriate protocol.

Observational/Clinical Skills

• Set limits in a therapeutic and consistent manner on a client's behaviors within program guideline and age-specific.
• Identify verbal and non-verbal cures for potential aggressive behavior and applies de-escalation techniques to a situation.
• Identify alterations in sensory perceptual images, recognizing the difference between illusions, delusions, and hallucination; c onsistently aware of safety issues regarding these clients and takes action when indicated to prevent client harm.