RECREATION THERAPY ASSISTANT | BEHAVIORIAL HEALTH SERVICES - RECREATION THERAPY | FULL-TIME DAY SHIFT (21033)

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center • Paramus, NJ

13h

About The Position

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center is seeking a Recreation Therapy Assistant to provide recreational and therapeutic support to patients in behavioral health services. The role delivers patient care appropriate to the ages and developmental needs of patients, and provides on- and off-unit activities according to schedules determined by the Program Director and Director of Rehabilitation Services.

The assistant leads leisure education, stress reduction, social skills, reality orientation, communication, self-esteem, independent living, and physical exercise programs. The position also supports individual and group therapeutic interventions, assists patients with assigned activities of daily living, and communicates patient needs, requests, and observed behaviors to nursing and treatment team members.

Other responsibilities include orienting patients to the unit and daily schedule; maintaining clean, safe, therapeutic activity areas; conducting assigned head counts and monitoring precaution levels; accompanying patients to activities and appointments; participating in activity program and treatment-plan development; documenting patient behavior and communications in medical records; and following hospital policies, safety, infection-control, and patient-rights standards. The assistant may also help patients at mealtimes and with ambulation, participate in committees and performance improvement activities, and perform other duties supporting the department.

Requirements

• Heartsaver/CPR Certification required.
• High school graduate or equivalent required.
• Technical skills required for patient care.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English to the extent required by the position.
• Patient care must reflect knowledge of patient growth and development and be appropriate to the ages of patients served.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of experience as a direct service provider in a behavioral health facility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide on- and off-unit recreational activities according to the unit program schedule.
• Implement and lead programs addressing leisure education, stress reduction, social skills, reality orientation, communication skills, self-esteem, independent living skills, and physical exercise.
• Use appropriate behavioral management techniques when interacting with patients.
• Provide individual patient interventions during group activities and in the unit milieu.
• Support other clinical staff with group and individual therapeutic interventions.
• Assist patients with assigned activities of daily living, including vital signs, meal serving, and monitoring.
• Communicate patient needs, requests, and observed behaviors to the Charge Nurse and other treatment team members.
• Take direction from the Unit Charge Nurse regarding patient care and management, as appropriate.
• Orient patients daily to the unit environment and scheduled services; maintain the posted patient schedule and patient assignments.
• Maintain activity areas as clean, safe, and therapeutic environments, including arranging furniture and cleaning and organizing after activities.
• Conduct patient head counts and monitor precaution levels as assigned.
• Transport or accompany patients to scheduled activities and appointments.
• Participate in activity program development with Rehabilitation Department staff.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment-plan development and implementation, as appropriate.
• Help create an aesthetically pleasing unit environment and decorate for seasonal and holiday observances in accordance with hospital safety standards.
• Document patient actions, behaviors, symptoms, and significant verbal and non-verbal communications in the medical record using the prescribed format.
• Follow hospital-wide, Behavioral Health, and Rehabilitation Department policies and procedures, as well as safety, environmental, infection-control, quality-assurance, and patient-rights standards.
• Provide timely, professional, caring, and respectful customer service.
• Use the hospital computer system in accordance with job responsibilities and hospital policy.
• May assist patients during mealtimes, including observation and feeding assistance.
• May assist patients with ambulation, including walking about the unit and accompanying them to the bathroom.
• Identify problems and contribute to unit and department problem-solving processes.
• Participate in unit committees and Performance Improvement activities as assigned.
• Assist other personnel as necessary and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Generous time-off policy, including vacation days, personal time, sick leave, and nine paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Continuing education programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED