Recreation Specialist - Aquatics

About Shepherd Center

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked byU.S. Newsas one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

Experience with adaptive aquatics preferred.

The Recreation Specialist is responsible for evaluating each patient (adolescent, adult, geriatric) assigned, determining short-term and long-term goals in conjunction with the patient and other Shepherd Center team members, and developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment program to meet these goals with moderate direct supervision. The specialist brings their expertise within the following specialty areas: Art, Music, or Sports. This hands-on and rewarding role gives the Recreation Specialist the opportunity to interact directly with patients, making an impact on their recovery through the rehabilitation continuum to their home community environment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Recreation Specialist (Art, Music, Sports) is responsible for planning and implementing rehabilitation programs and events to meet the needs of patients and appropriate community members with disabilities within their specialty area. Job Functions:

• Teach, demonstrate, and lead the specialty skill area (Art, Music, Sports) to patients in center and within the community.
• Makes appropriate Recreation tech, day program, outpatient, and community member referrals.
• Completes all documentation and paperwork as needed.
• Determines adaptive equipment needs in consultation with patient support system and other appropriate team members.
• Manages and upkeep all equipment and adaptive equipment within the area of specialty.
• Supervises performance and assigns duties to supportive personnel (students, volunteers, aides, techs, nursing, therapists).
• Facilitates community reintegration outings.
• Drives Shepherd vehicles to transport patients to and from outings.
• Maintains awareness of, and contact with, community-based resources for patient referral and provides training as appropriate.
• Plans, implements, and recaps inhouse and community programming throughout the year.
• Recognizes and discusses "age" developmental differences between adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, communicates effectively with all patients, and relates this to all aspects of treatment.
• Assists with the orientation of Recreation Therapy Interns and new staff members as assigned.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.

REQUIRED MINIMUM CERTIFICATION

• Basic Life Support (BLS) within 90 days of start date.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• 2-3 years of experience within the field of Recreation Therapy and/or within the specialty areas of arts, music, and sports.

REQUIRED MINIMUM SKILLS

• 1 year of experience within the specialty areas of arts, music, and sports and in the field area of Recreation Therapy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Certification by NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).
• The ability to teach, demonstrate, and lead patients on leisure skills of the specialty area using appropriate adaptive equipment.
• Current Georgia driver's license and insurable by Shepherd Center's auto insurance policy preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients. Involves some latitude for judgement with regards to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.
• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 50 lbs.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal patient care environment. Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids. Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.