Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (Pediatric Experience Required)

Blythedale Children's Hospital • Valhalla, NY

6d • $35 - $38 • Onsite

About The Position

Blythedale Children's Hospital is seeking a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) to join their team. This role will primarily be on the inpatient Child/Adolescent Unit, with some float responsibilities on other units. The ideal candidate is compassionate and skilled at assessing the unique recreational needs of infants, children, and teens with medical complexities. The position involves planning and implementing recreational activities, assessing needs, providing goal-directed therapy and leisure education, scheduling monthly activities, contributing to program development, setting up developmentally appropriate activities, caring for materials, documenting progress, monitoring patients for respiratory distress, demonstrating age-appropriate competency and judgment in critical situations, assessing play situations, communicating with medical staff, reinforcing behavioral management programs, orienting volunteers, participating in training, assisting with special activities, communicating with supervisors, and working with the Community Relations Department on events and projects.

Requirements

• Minimum one year of experience working with a pediatric population.
• Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation (or related field).
• CTRS certification (or eligible for certification within six months of start date).

Responsibilities

• Planning and implementing appropriate recreational activities for both individual and group programming.
• Assessing recreational and leisure needs hospital wide and developing therapeutic services to address these needs.
• Providing goal – directed therapy and leisure education both 1:1 and in the group setting.
• Scheduling and updating monthly activities calendar.
• Contributing to program development and special projects department and hospital wide as assigned by Supervisor.
• Setting up developmentally appropriate activities for assigned children.
• Responsible for appropriate care of materials (organization, clean-up, maintaining a clean environment).
• Writing appropriate anecdotal notes on assigned group of children.
• Is attentive to track and monitor the children for respiratory distress.
• Demonstrates competency appropriate to the ages of the patients served including the ability to obtain and interpret information in terms of the patients’ needs.
• Demonstrates appropriate response and judgment during a life-threatening situation.
• Continuously assesses play situations for children. Observing and determining unsafe situations and responding appropriately.
• Effectively communicates with nurses and other medical staff regarding a child’s medical needs.
• Provides consistent carryover of behavioral management programs designed for individual children.
• Assists in orientating new volunteers to the programs.
• Actively participates in staff training and in-service programs.
• Assists other department personnel in the planning and delivering of special activities.
• Practices appropriate communication with supervisor.
• Works with the community Relations Department on various internal and external events and projects.
• Perform any other duties as directed by Supervisor.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Including medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family.
• Retirement Plans with Employer Matching: Secure your future with our strong retirement plans.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave policies.
• Professional Development Opportunities: Access to mentorship, leadership training, and career advancement programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level