Dog Therapy Handler

Wellstar Health System

44d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dog Therapy Handler is responsible for providing dog therapy services to hospital staff and team members to promote stress relief, emotional well-being, and a positive workplace culture. This role involves the handler bringing their certified therapy dog to various hospital and health parks to round and conduct scheduled visits to hospital and health park departments, breakrooms, and wellness spaces. In addition, the Dog Therapy Handler and therapy dog will support team members during any on-site crisis or critical incident where team members could benefit from having therapy dog rounding. The handler will ensure the visits with team members are safe, engaging, and beneficial for participants while adhering to hospital policies and animal-assisted therapy guidelines. This position requires regular interaction with applicant's therapy dog. Candidates must demonstrate a strong bond with their certified therapy dog and the ability to maintain its well-being during visits with team members.

Requirements

• GED General Required
• Therapy dog certification for the dog-handler team from Alliance of Therapy Dogs (other recognized organizations may be considered at the discretion of Employee Wellness Leadership team). Upon Hire Required
• Current vaccinations and health certifications for the therapy dog as per hospital and state requirements. Upon Hire Required
• Minimum 1 year of experience handling or working with therapy dogs in a professional or volunteer capacity Required
• Ownership of a certified therapy dog. The handlers therapy dog will complete rounds and visits at the required facilities. Wellstar will not provide a therapy dog to the handler. All therapy dogs must meet the minimum certification requirements and possess a friendly, calm disposition. Required
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse groups of hospital staff. High
• Handlers are responsible for complying with the following health requirements for their participating dogs: verification that the dog is 18 months to 10 years of age, verification of good dental health, verification of no skin problems (allergies must be effectively treated with no open wounds/hot spots), verification of negative stool exam for parasites, a healthy appearance (no fleas or ticks), verification of year-round flea and tick protection. For optimal team member experience, frequent grooming and bathing is required (no matted hair, excessive shedding, strong odors, etc.). High
• Ability to manage and maintain a professional demeanor in a hospital setting. High
• Physical ability to handle and care for your dog during multiple sessions/multiple locations within a day. High
• Excellent organizational skills for scheduling and documentation. Medium
• This position requires regular interaction with applicant's therapy dog. Candidates must demonstrate a strong bond with their certified therapy dog and the ability to maintain its well-being during therapy sessions. High
• Required to own a certified therapy dog that can consistently perform the following commands without the need for treats: sit and down, stay and recall, walk at your side loosely on a leash without pulling, get along well with other dogs. In addition, the dog should love people, not be overly vocal, and should handle stress well. Prolonged collars or retractable leashes are not acceptable. High

Nice To Haves

• Minimum 1 year of experience in hospital, corporate wellness, or employee engagement programs Preferred
• Less than 1 year the therapy dog must have lived with the handler for a minimum 6 months Preferred

Responsibilities

• On-Site Rounding Support and Outreach: Facilitate positive interactions between your therapy dog and team members, including guiding the dog to provide appropriate support during on-site rounding. During rounding and scheduled interactions, the handlers will be expected to control the dog so team members can pet them to enhance experience, encourage participation and provide guidance on interacting with the therapy animal, and educate employees about the benefits of pet therapy and the appropriate ways to engage with the therapy animal. Dog must remain on a leash and under the handler's control at all times. Dog Therapy Handler is also responsible for actively greeting team members and assisting in answering all work-life and wellness benefits questions. Ensures that team members receive a positive impression of the Employee Wellness team and Dog Therapy offering.
• Program Collaboration with Wellness Consultant: Collaborate with Employee Wellness and department leaders to schedule and coordinate dog therapy session for Wellstar team members. Dog therapy handlers will also participate in Special events in collaboration with on-site Wellness Consultants and work with the wellness team to improve and promote program offerings based on team member input and organizational goals. Monitor staff engagement and report outcomes on the program's impact to the Supervisor of Employee Wellness Operations. This will involve engaging with team members to seek feedback and impact of dog therapy interactions.
• Maintain cleanliness, safety, and professionalism in all interactions, ensuring compliance with hospital policies. If the animal urinates or defecates, it is the responsibility of the handler to ensure that contamination is cleaned up immediately, using sanitizing wipes. While on campus, your dog must wear an identification vest as part of its uniform and the Dog Therapy Handler must wear an Employee Wellness branded shirt.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees