Lead Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Hospital for Special Care•New Britain, CT

3d•$28 - $43•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist supports the manager with daily operations and efficiencies in designated areas. Working collaboratively with the rehabilitation leadership team, the lead helps coordinate staffing and schedules, patient access to therapy services, productivity, and EMR revisions and updates. The role also assists with new-hire onboarding, staff mentoring, and the student program. As a clinical resource, the lead facilitates appropriate resource use and therapy delivery, and creates programs that support patients’ health, functional status, personal development, and quality of life. The specialist evaluates discipline-relevant impairments, establishes measurable goals with patients and families, plans and delivers care, revises interventions as needed, and participates in discharge planning. The position carries a patient caseload, coordinates time management, supervises delegated responsibilities, and documents patient and professional interactions. The lead also develops specialty expertise, assists managers with staffing and clinical practice oversight, supports program initiatives, educates staff, and monitors outcomes and quality improvement. The role primarily involves indoor work, regular interaction with others, and frequent, sometimes unpredictable schedule fluctuations. Occasional outdoor work and exposure to cleaning-related irritants, body fluids, contagious disease, blood-borne pathogens, and radiation may occur. Physical demands include periods of consecutive work, sitting and independent mobility, lifting and carrying items, occasional heavy pushing or pulling for patient transport, frequent positional changes, and submersion in water for treatment. The position requires clinical judgment, 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-relevant impairments in accordance with applicable state practice acts and licensure requirements.
Recognize physiological, psychological, and age-related patient 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, revising treatments when needed.
Instruct patients and families using verbal, written, and audiovisual materials.
Participate in discharge planning and recommend community resources to meet patient needs across the continuum of care.
Organize schedules and manage time to meet patient care needs, maintain a patient caseload that meets productivity expectations, and collaborate with team members for assistance and coverage.
Supervise responsibilities delegated to supportive personnel.
Document evaluations, progress toward goals, equipment purchase orders, statistical reports, home programs, discharge summaries, and other patient and professional interactions in a timely manner.
Communicate appropriately with patients, families, health care team members, supervisors, and students, and demonstrate professionalism in interactions.
Utilize HRO principles.
Develop multidisciplinary expertise in a designated specialty area to assist managers with staffing and clinical practice oversight in that area and across the institution.
Help coordinate staffing with the rehabilitation leadership team and manager to support patient care and therapist productivity expectations.
Assist managers with programmatic initiatives in designated areas, collaborating with unit managers, case coordinators, and staff.
Educate staff on units and monitor program outcomes and ongoing quality improvement.
Communicate with staff at monthly inpatient and outpatient staff meetings.
Support the manager in the daily operation of the assigned area through delegated tasks.
Assist with onboarding new hires, staff mentoring, and the student program.