Lead Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Hospital for Special Care•New Britain, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist supports the manager in the daily operation of designated areas, with a focus on efficiency. The role works collaboratively with the rehabilitation leadership team on staffing and scheduling, patient access to therapy, productivity, and EMR revisions and updates. The Lead assists with onboarding, staff mentoring, and the student program, and serves as a resource to support appropriate use of resources and effective delivery of therapy services. The position also creates programs that benefit patients’ health, functional status, and personal development related to quality of life. The Lead provides discipline-specific evaluations and patient care, develops and revises treatment plans, documents care, communicates with patients, families, colleagues, supervisors, and students, and contributes to discharge planning. In a designated specialty area, the Lead helps managers oversee staffing and clinical practice, supports program initiatives, educates staff, monitors outcomes and quality improvement, and assists with daily operations as delegated. The position is primarily indoors, with occasional outdoor work and regular interaction with others. Schedules may fluctuate frequently and unpredictably. The role may involve exposure to cleaning particles or chemicals, body fluids, contagious disease, blood-borne pathogens, and radiation. Physical demands include periods of sitting and mobility, lifting and carrying, pushing or pulling equipment or patients, changing body position, and occasional immersion in water. The role requires clinical judgment, decision-making, communication, writing, arithmetic, and computer skills.

Requirements

Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, or Therapeutic Recreation.
Current Connecticut licensure or national certification as required by the specific discipline.
Maintain competency requirements defined by NCTRC, the state practice act, and professional organization standards of practice.
Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience.
Valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Current CPR certification.

Responsibilities

Evaluate discipline-specific impairments as required by relevant state practice acts and licensure requirements.
Recognize patients’ physiological, psychological, and age-related changes; consult with health care team members; and establish measurable goals with patients and families.
Plan, implement, deliver, and delegate patient care using appropriate therapeutic modalities and interventions; revise treatment as needed; instruct patients and families; and participate in discharge planning.
Organize schedules and manage time to meet patient-care needs, productivity expectations, and service-area standards, coordinating with team members for assistance or coverage when needed.
Supervise responsibilities delegated to supportive personnel.
Document patient and professional interactions in a timely manner, including evaluations, progress, equipment purchase orders, statistical reports, home programs, and discharge summaries.
Communicate appropriately with patients, families, health care team members, supervisors, and students, and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions.
Utilize HRO principles.
Develop multidisciplinary expertise in a designated specialty area to assist managers with staffing and clinical-practice oversight within that area and across the institution.
Help coordinate staffing with the rehabilitation leadership team and manager to support patient care and therapist productivity.
Assist managers in implementing program initiatives in designated areas in collaboration with unit managers, case coordinators, and staff.
Educate staff, monitor program outcomes, and contribute to ongoing quality improvement.
Communicate with staff at monthly inpatient and outpatient staff meetings.
Support the manager in daily operation of the assigned area by completing delegated tasks.
Create therapeutic recreation programs that support patients’ health, functional status, and personal development related to quality of life.
Assist with onboarding new hires, staff mentoring, and the student program.