Recreation Therapist

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley.  The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward thinking and compassionate CERTIFIED RECREATION/ACTIVITY THERAPIST (CTRS) to be part of our Social Services Team. The Recreation Therapist is responsible for planning and implementing activity services for assigned program, which involves defining and implementing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Art, Music, or Recreation therapy, humanities, social work or related therapeutic discipline.

Experience: One (1) year of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illness, preferred.

Licensure: Certification or licensure as CTRS is required.

Additional Requirements: Successful completion of CPR Certification and successful completion of Handle with Care training. Certification and training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

Qualifications

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

Assessment

1. Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.
2. Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards
   treatment plan goals.
3. Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Program Coodinator
4. Provide assessment in psychosocial/leisure recreational skills development/deficiency within 72hours

Interventions

1. Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's
   plan of care.
2. Apply appropriate crisis interventon techniques,as required
3. Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning
4. Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria
5. Maintan current documentation in daily progreess notes, including the patient's name,date of therapy, name of therapeutic group/intervention and summary of session.

Milieu

1. Effectively plans and implements activity therapy for assigned patient case load within the facility,
   as well as outside the hospital as required.
2. Monitor therapeutic space, supplies and equipment and ensures they are kept in a clean, orderly and
   safe condition.
3. Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining
   therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of groups dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.

Performance Accountability

1. Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients,
   licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.
2. Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld
3. Report therapeutic services charges daily, substantiating any changes in the treatment notes.
4. Attend program meetings and maintan related records
5. Provide direction, education, and in-service to other unit personnel regarding activity therapy
6. Participate in performnce improvement activities (i.e.im-services, conferences or seminars)
7. Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities, delegates duties to other personnel as appropriate, and demonstrate good judgement when making decisions.
8. Adhere to facility, department and Corporate Personnel Policies and procedures
9. Attend all mandatory facility in-sevices and staff development activities as scheduled.
10. Support facility-wide quality/performance improvement goals and objectives
11. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

Teaching

1. Model and teach appropriate social skills.
2. Teach coping skills and stress management techniques to patients.
3. Carry out teaching activities identified in the treatment plan.

Treatment Planning

1. Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to
   therapy, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.
2. Contribute to treatment plan with specific goals and interventions to be achieved in therapeutic
   
3. Completion of Master Treatment Plan within 72hours admission with patient specific goals and interventions listed.

Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11

1. Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
2. Maintain knowledge of children’s stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for behavior related to child development arise.
3. Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior.
4. Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
5. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning disabled child.
6. Relate to child patients in an age appropriate manner.
7. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issue.
8. Act as a resource to other staff in regard to the Child Patient Programs.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adult Patients Ages 19 through 64

1. Gather information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use judgments based on knowledge of adult behaviors in treatment planning and interventions.
2. Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise behaviors and non-judgement terms
3. Utilize seclusion/restraint procedures applicable to adult body size and past history of violent or emotional behaviors.
4. Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise behaviors
5. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of adult care within Specific Standards of Care for this age group.

Specific Standards for the Care of Geriatric Patients Ages 65 and older

1. Maintain knowledge of the developmental tasks and sociological theories of aging.
2. Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of gerontological health care and behavioral care
3. Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use therapeutic judgement based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.
4. Utilize interventions based on gerontological theory to restore patient's functional capabilities and to prevent complication and excess disability.