Activity Assistant

Summit BHC•Santa Teresa, NM

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Activity Assistant provides support with planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and directing individual and group activities/recreation within the facility. Assists in conducting comprehensive recreational therapy services designed to facilitate the psychosocial rehabilitation of patients in an acute psychiatric health care facility.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in activity therapy or related field preferred.
Previous experience in recreation in a healthcare setting with knowledge of patient population served by the facility also preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as a resource for new patients introducing them to other patients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation.
Orients patients to the activities program, explaining the benefits of activities.
Maintains an awareness of patient's needs and individual goals while motivating patients towards activities which are beneficial to them.
Observes patients’ interest levels and behaviors.
Interacts and devotes time specifically to the patients the duration of activity.
Communicates with patients on their level of understanding.
Listens attentively to any patient complaints and works in a positive manner to help alleviate the problem.
Assists with activity planning by offering new activity ideas and diverse therapeutic recreation program.
Organizes and sets up the equipment that is used in recreational activities.
Provides patients with activity resources and supplies, as needed.
Helps keep the activity areas neat and organized to help maintain a safe environment.
Engages patients in individual and/or group recreation programming.
Promotes interest in recreational activities.
Explains the rules of activities and instructs participants at a variety of skill levels.
Documents activity interventions and patient progress in the medical record per facility documentation requirements.
Documents hours of patient attendance and participation in activities daily and any unusual behavior or statements made by the patients.
Enforces safety rules to prevent injury and modifies activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
Helps to develop and maintain departmental resources, sharing the responsibility to monitor equipment and supplies.