Therapeutic Recreation Specialist - Peds Psych - Per Diem - Days

POSITION SUMMARY

Assess patient needs, skills, and interests and develops Activity Therapy treatment goals. Provide therapeutic activity services to patients seeking mental health and psychiatric treatment. Conduct, design, implement, and adjust individualized and group programs to increase functional levels and promote therapeutic milieu. Conduct groups for patients inclusive of weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Assess daily patient functioning, leisure and recreational needs and document daily patient participation in Activity Therapy treatment. Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and document according to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction

Services and The Joint Commission.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

*All duties listed below are essential unless noted otherwise*

1. Assess patient functional and mental status, interests, and skill level through patient assessment interviews.

2. Interpret assessment information using it to develop patient goals and treatment interventions that contribute to increase patient functioning and to the treatment plan process. Assess daily patient functioning in reference to individual patient goal(s). Document goals and interventions on treatment plan. Complete discharge summaries according to unit policy and procedure.

3. Notify Activity Therapy Staff of changes or updated goals as per patient functioning.

4. Complete weekly Activity Therapy treatment notes and treatment plans according to unit policy and procedure. Document patients� participation in Activity Therapy treatment on a daily basis and update treatment plan per unit policy.

5. Develop, implement, and review activity programs for meeting the needs of patients. Organize a realistic, effective, efficient Therapeutic Activities schedule that meets the needs of patients in Psychiatry.

6. Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of patient diagnosis, complications, precautions, and indications for treatment through communication with other team members and consultations of medical records.

7. Give regular reports to team members, separately, and in team meeting verifying status of patient�s progress, change in goals, problems, and status of participation in Therapeutic Activity treatment. Relay information regarding change in behaviors.

8. Assist in arranging program coverage and ensure covering (replacement) staff is well informed of the treatment required for patients in the event of absence, planned illness, or vacation. Adjust activity schedule in response to fluctuations in unit needs, demands. Receive approval from Manager/Director/designee for program adjustments in the event of absence due to planned or unplanned illness or scheduled vacation of self and notify peers and nursing staff of approved program adjustments.

9. Communicate and coordinate Therapeutic Activity programs with the PCS, Nursing Staff, Physicians, Managers and Director to promote patient participation and/or consistency in care.

10. Implement the established infection control procedures when working with or around patients.

11. Assist, plan, implement and/or oversee the implementation of special events, special speakers, etc.

12. Know and display the philosophy, mission, and values of ProMedica and Psychiatric Services.

13. Attend and actively participate in Activity Department quarterly meetings, as well as Psychiatric Services staff meetings.

14. Participate in Quality Improvement programs in the department, including recording information and giving suggestions for corrections and improvements.

15. Maintain assigned Activity storage areas in an organized manner that promotes easy access to the materials for all departments utilizing the supplies.

16. Keep current on the policies and procedures for safety, including fire drills, disaster evacuations, weather safety, and infection control.

17. Maintain CPR and non-violent crisis intervention training according to time frames. Required to complete educational in-services as necessary

18. Keep current on literature and new developments in the field of Activity/Recreational Therapy, as well as the psychiatric adult, geriatric, and acute populations.

19. Seek opportunities for self-improvement and professional growth.

20. Define and develop an area of interest into a working expertise which can be drawn upon and shared with others to upgrade the level of professional performance with the Activities Therapy Department.

21. Understand the capabilities and limitations of assistants(s) and utilize them appropriately and effectively to meet patient and departmental goals.