Recreation Therapist Job Description

Recreation Therapist Job Description

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Recreation therapist provides recreation therapy to enhance independence and community integration and teach leisure time activities in the home and the community.

Recreation Therapist Duties & Responsibilities

To write an effective recreation therapist job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included recreation therapist job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

In the performance of official duties, the CTRS has regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive information which must be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, HIPPA regulations of 2003, and other applicable law and regulations
Complete recreation assessments as required per ICF regulations
Demonstrates the ability to integrate age specific factors into the plan of care and involves the patient and family in the care plan process as appropriate to age
Formulates and implements Therapeutic Recreation Treatment programs according to individual patient needs as determined by evaluations and assessments
Providing input regarding patient status and progress
Communicating and establishing/maintaining effective work and patient relationships
Coordinating recreation activities
Providing professional guidance to recreation assistants
Scoring and interpreting a variety of creative and motor skills tests
Teaching and supervising intern and practicum students

Recreation Therapist Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Recreation Therapist

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: NCTRC, CPR, CTRS, BLS, R.O.P.E.S, CPI, CCI, CIM, RC, WSP

Education for Recreation Therapist

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the recreation therapist job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Education, Therapeutic Recreation, Graduate, Therapy, Art Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Department of Education, Dance, Music Therapy, Recreation

Skills for Recreation Therapist

Desired skills for recreation therapist include:

Practices and procedures the laws
Regulations
Guidelines governing functions in the post-acute care facility
Psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illness
Principles of human growth and development and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status
Current trends
Developments
Practices
Community opportunities for recreation/leisure

Desired experience for recreation therapist includes:

Assembling pre-evaluation data, interpreting medical record information, reviewing therapy prescriptions, and conducting mental, physical, social, cognitive, environmental, financial, and motivational evaluations to write and implement treatment plans
Striving to delay mental and physical deterioration, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within the limitations of the patient's abilities
Handling difficult cases involving patients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other medical complications requiring unconventional approaches to treatment and resourcefulness in devising effective methods and procedures
Interpreting and administering the physician's recreation therapy prescription, scheduling patients for treatment, and integrating recreation therapy/creative arts actvities with other treatments to acheive patient goals
Coordinating the overall treatment plan with the treatment team and the patient's family/caregiver
Minimizing further debilitation through cognitive retraining, reality orientation, group dynamics, one-on-one interaction, and problem/conflict resolution

Recreation Therapist Examples

1

Recreation Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is looking to fill the role of recreation therapist. We appreciate you taking the time to review the list of qualifications and to apply for the position. If you don’t fill all of the qualifications, you may still be considered depending on your level of experience.
Responsibilities for recreation therapist
  • Entering data into the medical center computer system and updating information to reflect the patient's current status
  • Selecting, adapting, and/or adjusts recreation therapy modalities in accordance with rehabilitation goals
  • Modifying techniques and initiating new approaches as needed to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals
  • Will work a schedule that can be on Monday, Wedesday, and Saturday or Sunday
  • Evaluates Child and Family Life services / programs by collecting information used to monitor performance improvement and developing and completing performance improvement projects
  • Facilitates appropriate use of the Family Resource Center's resources by patients, families and staff
  • Functions as a member of the health care team by attending rounds, patient care conferences, and documenting information related to interventions
  • Provides parental and sibling education and support regarding effects of hospitalization, tests, other medical procedures, and/or illness
  • Provides supportive relationships, emotional support, information and role modeling and uses developmentally appropriate methods for patients and families to prepare them for diagnostic, treatment, and pre-operative and inpatient and outpatient pre-procedural support procedures, including coping techniques and medical play, to optimize the quality of the medical experience
  • Provides therapeutic child life care, including developmentally and age appropriate play/recreational activities and teaching effective coping procedures for assigned patients in individual and group settings, consistent with developmental needs in order to normalize the environment and facilitate a milieu for assessment
Qualifications for recreation therapist
  • The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, bending, moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment, positioning severely disabled patients and assisting patients in ambulation
  • Long Beach, CA
  • Applications will be accepted from US Citizens from current and former
  • Competitive service Federal employees, Veterans & people with disabilities
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation and a physical
  • Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306)
2

Recreation Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is looking to fill the role of recreation therapist. We appreciate you taking the time to review the list of qualifications and to apply for the position. If you don’t fill all of the qualifications, you may still be considered depending on your level of experience.
Responsibilities for recreation therapist
  • The incumbent will be a consultant in their specialty for treatment programming and evaluation
  • Will train and supervise subordinate professional and paraprofessional staff in recreational and inclusionary activities
  • In accordance with Active Treatment plans and people's interests and needs, the therapist conducts activities, reviews and evaluates program effectiveness and recommends changes or specialized activities as required
  • Oversees direct care staff in providing recreational opportunities by providing training on various techniques and valued outcomes of recreation programs and by direct participation in service delivery
  • Prepares annual assessments, interest surveys, and reviews paperwork
  • Seek and explore new activities and events in the community to provide inclusion
  • Develop weekly recreation schedules
  • Schedules and Participates in community inclusion activities
  • Modifies group interventions to meet the changing needs of the patients
  • Monitors patient’s response to interventions
Qualifications for recreation therapist
  • Durham, NC
  • 1 or more years experience on Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit is preferred
  • Must have two (2) years experience in a social recreation program within the last five years, one of which was full-time in a patient activities program in a health-care setting
  • Must be a licensed OT or OTA
  • Battle Creek, MI
  • Recent College Graduate as described below [Transcripts Required]
3

Recreation Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is hiring for a recreation therapist. We appreciate you taking the time to review the list of qualifications and to apply for the position. If you don’t fill all of the qualifications, you may still be considered depending on your level of experience.
Responsibilities for recreation therapist
  • Observe and record individuals participation, reactions, behavioral patterns, and progress over the course of recreational programming, and report changes to upper-level staff
  • Assist higher level recreation staff in the evaluation of recreation activities, and recommend new activities to address the recreational needs of individuals and/or groups
  • Coordinates the performance of subjective and objective initial and ongoing evaluations of patient's according to diagnosis, past history and physician referral
  • Communicates treatment recommendations based on recreation assessment to the treatment team and identifies treatment intervention strategies to facilitate treatment planning
  • Facilitates the assessment and re-assessment of the patient's physical and/or emotional problems and needs for recreational therapy as determined by history and results of evaluation procedures
  • Deliver a variety of recreation activities for individuals and/or groups, and adapt activities to adjust
  • Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen
  • Utilizes principles of infection control and universal precautions in the performance of patient care
  • Participates in education and in-service training and Crises Prevention programs
  • Develops and carries out special programming with Program Director, Mental Health Group Worker and other staff as scheduled for holidays and special events
Qualifications for recreation therapist
  • Unofficial college transcript if substituting college education for the experience requirement
  • One year of employment experience as an Activity Therapist or Recreation Therapist
  • Position will work in Acute Rehab unit and some Saturday shifts will be required
  • Minimum of two (2) years clinical experience as a Recreational Therapist
  • Evidence of ability to function with a high degree of independence and competence
  • Demonstrates advanced working knowledge of the principles, standard practice, procedures, and equipment in therapeutic rehabilitation and therapeutic recreation
4

Recreation Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is looking for a recreation therapist. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for recreation therapist
  • Complete recreation assessments as required per IRA regulations
  • Provides supportive counseling to patients in both individual and group settings
  • Maintains inventory of supplies and program materials
  • Shops for needed activity and patient grooming supplies
  • Assist with supervision of recreation therapy interns
  • Participates in education and in-service for PCTs, Sr NAs, and volunteers
  • Maintains statistical records of patients utilization of offered groups and activities
  • Documents patients participation and response to unit activities
  • Collaborates with treatment team, and participates in team meetings
  • Performs leisure activity assessment and customizes activities taking into consideration the patients level of functioning
Qualifications for recreation therapist
  • Veterans' Preference documentation (DD-214 or equivalent, SF-15 and VA Letter, as appropriate)
  • Current C.T.R.S
  • CPR/BLS License Required
  • At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation
  • Therapeutic Recreational Specialist Certificate
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field
5

Recreation Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is searching for experienced candidates for the position of recreation therapist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for recreation therapist
  • Organizes and leads community meeting to illicit patients response to the milieu
  • Conduct individual examination, evaluation and treatment diagnosis to identify patients’ needs and interests
  • Develop a plan of care which includes goals, outcomes and interventions
  • Discharge patients from service when goals and outcomes have been achieved
  • Evaluates assigned patients to assess and document the need for therapeutic recreational interventions in order to attain rehabilitation goals and a plan of care
  • Treatment interventions and recreational activities for individuals are provided based on findings of the evaluation and plan of care
  • Uses a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, pet therapy, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music and community outings to improve and maintain the physical, mental and emotional well-being of patients
  • Documents therapeutic interventions and maintains necessary records in patient’s files
  • Assists patients to integrate into the community by teaching them how to access community resources and recreational services through community outings to parks, restaurants, museums, and shopping venues
  • For patients under the age of 18, initiate tutoring services and maintain communication between the tutoring program and the patients school, , post discharge services and use of the Zone
Qualifications for recreation therapist
  • Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist is strongly preferred
  • Ability to demonstrate appropriate patient handling skills
  • Must demonstrate the ability to treat all age populations as needed or have the capacity to develop skills through the organization's cross-training, orientation program
  • Graduation from college program with major in Therapeutic Recreation
  • As a condition of continued employment, the employee must be currently certified or obtain certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation specialist (CTRS) within six months of employment
  • Verbal communication skills required to lead therapeutic activities

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