Recreational Therapist

Trinity Health•Ypsilanti, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Therapeutic Recreation Specialist coordinates therapeutic activity and recreation services to help patients recover from or adjust to illness or disability and address social problems. The specialist works with physicians and other treatment team members to plan, develop, and implement individualized therapeutic programs, and observes patient responses for signs of progress or regression. The role includes budgeting program funds and managing the inventory, storage, and replacement of equipment and supplies. The specialist provides quality psychiatric patient care that considers age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs, applies the treatment process competently, and demonstrates unit or area competencies. The position is in the Partial Adult Hospitalization department at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on a full-time Monday–Friday day schedule. The role may also include case management and discharge-planning duties, training and supervising student interns, and overseeing activity or recreation therapy aides. The specialist is expected to maintain cooperative working relationships, protect confidential information, follow safe work practices, and act in accordance with the health system’s mission, vision, and values.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation or Music Therapy.
Current appropriate certification: recreation therapy certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), or certification and registration from the National Association for Music Therapy and the certification board for Music Therapists.
Six to twelve months of related experience.
Knowledge of current theory and practice in therapeutic and rehabilitative recreation.
Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with patients and families and exchange patient progress information with physicians and treatment team members.
Analytical skills to design activities for desired objectives, observe and document significant patient behaviors, evaluate program effectiveness, and administer an approved budget.
Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 50% of work time while observing and instructing patients and recording notes and observations.

Responsibilities

Coordinate therapeutic activity and recreation therapy services for patients.
Consult with physicians and other clinical personnel to plan and implement individually tailored activity and recreation therapy programs.
Assess patients’ functional status and collaborate with treatment team members to establish therapy goals consistent with diagnoses.
Schedule therapy activities in accordance with patient treatment goals.
Provide group and individual therapy to support interpersonal relationships, social participation, anxiety relief, confidence, leisure education, and adapted sports.
Budget program funds and manage equipment and supply inventory, storage, and replacement; contact vendors, evaluate products, and recommend purchases.
Instruct patients in therapy activities, participate in events, and observe their physical, mental, and social progress.
Document patient reactions to therapy activities and contribute progress information and reports for treatment team meetings.
Maintain knowledge of developments in the field through professional literature, seminars, and conferences.
Provide community reintegration activities involving hobbies, sports, and games that enable patients to apply skills learned in other therapies.
May perform case management duties, including discharge planning and coordination with referral sources, insurance companies, and families.
May train and supervise student interns.
May oversee activity or recreation therapy aides.
Maintain cooperative relationships, address conflict constructively, identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in resolving them.
Maintain the confidentiality of information concerning patients, physicians, employees, and visitors.
Perform job duties safely and promptly report preventable hazards and unsafe practices to management.
Provide quality patient care that accounts for age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs; demonstrate unit or area competencies.
Behave in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph Mercy Health System.
Perform other duties as assigned.