Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

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Therapeutic recreation specialist provides administrative leadership within the department program, facility or community to insure quality of therapeutic recreation component within rehabilitation program.

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Duties & Responsibilities

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

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Plans, organizes and coordinates recreation activities, functional leisure skills, and leisure education
Communicate with community service organizations to develop resources for recreational programs
Design community reintegration activities to assist the person receiving services with their physical and cognitive needs during physical recreational/leisure activity
Provide training to the person receiving services and as appropriate, all others involved in that person's rehabilitation
Participate in the team process provide input and effective treatment strategies
Develops and conducts intensive counseling, psychotherapy, and treatment plans and services with clients and their families
Participates in psychotherapy and case reviews with clinical staff treatment teams or outside agencies to develop and implement mental health client treatment plans
Performs and supervises the duties associated with Drop-In Rehabilitation Clients of mental disabilities
Supervises and develops professional staff, clinical interns, administrative support staff and volunteers to provide the services offered to the seriously mentally disabled
Evaluates and make recommendations on new techniques for dealing with emotional and psychiatric problems

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Qualifications

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

Licensing or Certifications for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: NCTRC, CPR, CTRS, BLS, PSL, AED, BCLS

Education for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the therapeutic recreation specialist job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Therapy, Education, Communication, Design, Recreation, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Health

Skills for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Desired skills for therapeutic recreation specialist include:

Complex neurologic injury and orthopedic rehabilitation techniques generally
Ability to apply the principles
Best practices in therapeutic recreation
Community recreation resources and the ability to establish relationships and locate community resources
Developmental training approaches
Individual assessment and intervention
Leisure education
Methods
Practice and materials of Recreational Therapy and its appropriate implementation for emotionally impaired patients
Program policies and procedures in an psychiatric institutional setting

Desired experience for therapeutic recreation specialist includes:

Interfaces with law enforcement agencies and ambulance personnel regarding emergencies
Directs specialized programs, leisure activities and special events for mentally, physically and neurologically disabled individuals of all ages
Experience in psychiatric setting preferred
Limited License Professional Counselor (LLPC) or License Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Michigan preferred
Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation
One to two (1-2) years of experience in a psychiatric facility preferred

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Examples

1

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is hiring for a therapeutic recreation specialist. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Designs interventions which are relevant to the specific populations served
  • Provides a safe and trusting therapeutic environment for patients
  • Demonstrates skill in helping patients process interventions, allowing them to process emotions related to activities, and personal meanings associated with experiences and any parallels to their lives
  • Motivates patients to learn and better understand themselves and the issues they face
  • Completing Activity Therapy assessments and treatment plans
  • Assessing patients within two (2) days of admission and completing evaluations of progress
  • Maintain inventory of recreational supplies and equipment
  • Store recreational supplies appropriately
  • Receive invoices / packing slips from recreation supplies delivery and entertainers and forward to the Site Community Manager for processing
  • Report any participant grievances reported by other staff directly to Grievances and Appeals department, other disciplines involved
Qualifications for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Employee must be in good standing (evaluation/employment history, corrective action, ) to be considered for internal transfer
  • Ninety (90) hours of dementia courses preferred but not required
  • CTRS preferred
  • BCLS certificate TRS certification highly preferred
  • Must have the visual acuity to identify, instruct, and evaluate patient’s skills, affect, needs, safety, and progress
  • Must be able to work with patients, families, physicians, and staff
2

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is looking for a therapeutic recreation specialist. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Conceptualize and implement participant educational programs using either internal Employees or outside experts to enhance a participant's quality of life
  • Schedule and facilitate trips to destinations of interest to the participants
  • Plans and implements therapeutic recreational programs and activities for adults and seniors
  • Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team that consults with other health care professionals in determining a total treatment plan and recommends changes based on individual observations and evaluations
  • Conducts various therapeutic recreation programs for patients including but not limited to physical activity programs, creative expressive programs (dramatics, music, arts and crafts) and special events and programs
  • Works intensively with patients as part of their treatment program and participates when necessary to encourage participation
  • Completes daily documentation (including charges) of patient progress as required by SH, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies
  • Incorporate leading/evidence-based practice in quality/safety into every day work
  • Identify processes/systems that could lead to inefficient practices, unsafe conditions, errors or adverse events
  • Avoid shortcuts to ensure quality and safety measures are not circumvented
Qualifications for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Current National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) or eligibility to sit for the next NCTRC examination
  • CTRS Certification through the NCTRC
  • CNA Certification within 6 months of hire
  • Monticello Driving Course upon hire
  • 3 + years of patient therapeutic recreation program experience
  • 1+ year of general Clinical experience in a Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) Acute Care, Medical-Surgical, and/or Critical Care setting
3

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is looking to fill the role of therapeutic recreation specialist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Performs patient assessment based on physician or practitioner's diagnosis/prescription and develop and implement a treatment program appropriate to the patient's age (pediatric, adolescent, or geriatric)
  • Provides assistance in obtaining assistive devices/durable medical supplies for patients as requested/required
  • Receives, schedules, and provides therapy for referred patients, assigning and supervising support staff as necessary and appropriate
  • Speak up with other service partners to ensure high quality and safety
  • Report serious events/incidents per policy
  • Develops and conducts specialized programs, leisure activities and special events for individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities
  • Plans and conducts community integration experiences, cultural and community outings and wilderness experiences for individuals with disabilities
  • Plans and conducts events to promote disability awareness, public awareness of citywide Therapeutic Recreation Services, and related events
  • Builds relationships with non-profit and community partners, and seeks collaborative opportunities to enhance programming
  • Coordinates marketing and outreach efforts to expand existing therapeutic programs
Qualifications for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Experience within a Nursing Home
  • 1+ year of Therapeutic Recreation experience
  • Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certificate required
  • Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation is necessary
  • NCTRC required
  • Geriatric experience is preferred
4

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is hiring for a therapeutic recreation specialist. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Leads and trains recreation staff, new recruits and volunteers for therapeutic programs
  • Performs patient assessment, treatment, and discharge planning in collaboration with other rehab team members
  • Functions as a team member in interdisciplinary care plan of patients
  • Documents patient care timely and in accordance with department standards
  • Provide therapeutic recreation
  • Evaluate emotional, social, mental and physical condition of patients through specific assessments and activity
  • Plan and carry out treatment for individuals and groups of referred patients
  • May plan, evaluate and treat the more complex cases for individuals and groups of referred patients
  • May provide education and in-service training regarding therapeutic recreation to patients, families, staff and others
  • Consult with other members of the rehabilitative team to appropriately address identified patient needs during therapeutic recreation activities
Qualifications for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Tasks may involve bending, lifting, walking, carrying or using a force equal to lifting up to one hundred (100) pounds
  • This posting may be used to fill other vacancies in other divisions/work locations within the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
  • One (1) year of experience working specifically with Youth (5 – 12 years of age), Teens (13 – 18 years of age) and with Adults with disabilities in a professional recreational setting
  • One (1) or more years’ inclusion, behavior or therapeutic recreation experience
  • One (1) year experience in recruiting, training and supervising temporary employees, contract workers, instructors and/or volunteer/volunteer groups
  • One (1) year experience in monitoring an operational budget for an assigned work area
5

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of therapeutic recreation specialist. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • Plan and implement additional recreational activities special events, patient/family workshops
  • 2 years of experience preferred, (Internship can count towards years)
  • Successful completion of CPI training (parts 1 & 2) within 2 months of hire and annually thereafter
  • Two years of related experience with children, adolescents and young adult population
  • Current Driver’s license with a good driving record
  • 80% - 90% of the time, the incumbent is standing, walking, kneeling or reaching while working with residents
Qualifications for therapeutic recreation specialist
  • One (1) year experience coaching adaptive sport activities
  • Must possess a minimum of two (2) years experience in therapeutic recreation
  • The same age/type of resident served by this facility
  • Must possess the demonstrated ability to assess resident therapeutic recreation needs and develop and implement a program to meet those needs
  • Must possess a working knowledge of accreditation standards and compliance requirements
  • Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or 2 years of experience preferred

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