Recreation Therapist

The following is a composite representation of the actual positions which make up this classification. It is not intended to cover all possible job requirements or job factors which, if applicable, are included by reference. Lines of supervision and reporting are as shown on an organizational chart. TrueCore has zero tolerance of abuse.

A. Position Definition & Summary:

Under direction of a supervisor provides coordination and implementation of delinquency interventions as well as on-site and off-site therapeutic and recreational activities for the youth in the facility. Also acts as the facility restorative justice implementation manager. Works with youth to restore motor, social and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. Interventions modalities shall be used such as creative arts, sports, adventure programming, dance/movement and leisure education. Structured recreational therapy shall be provided during non-traditional hours, including weekends, to promote pro-social activities.

B. Position Expectations and Essential Functions:

• Participates in implementing applicable youth performance and treatment planning by: (a) monitoring youths progress; (b) communicating information regarding youths participation and behavior to other members of treatment team; (c) maintains communication with youth; (c) facilitates didactic, educational, psycho-educational and community groups within the context of the youths delinquency and assigned therapeutic activity programming; (e) encourages and facilitates youths participation in both therapeutic and recreation activities; (f) supervises youth to ensure their safety and involvement in treatment; (g) provides input for treatment team review processes.

• Coordinates program delinquency services intervention programming.

• Conducts delinquency intervention groups in accordance with contractual requirements.

• Maintains assigned youth, group, program, department and related documentation.

• Plans, develops and promotes facility wide program of physical fitness and recreational activities.

• Plans, develops and promotes therapeutic activities in coordination with and under the direction of the Clinical Director.

• Plans, develops and promotes program designed to promote cultural diversity and activities.

• Participates in maintaining the therapeutic milieu on the unit, enforces the positive performance system.

• Orients new youth to unit, delinquency services programming, as well as therapeutic and recreational activities.

• Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for youth while participating in both therapeutic and recreational activities.

• Assists youth in carrying out activities of daily living, when congruent with the youths treatment plan and needs, age, and developmental level.

• Participates in developing professional knowledge and skills.

• Supports the facilitys favorable public image.

• Complies with applicable standards of conduct and regulations governing delivery of services.

• Maintains attendance and punctuality.

• Implements off-site activities for assigned program.

• Responsible for impact of crime curriculum and restorative justice activities within the program.

• Advises facility administrator on restorative justice implementation within the program.

• Provides or assists in provision of restorative justice training for program staff.

• Assists Facility Administrator in prompting restorative justice through community partnerships and coordination of community work activities.

• Effectively implements and consistently applies the programs Positive Performance System (PPS) / Behavior Management System.

• Detect, respond and prevent abuse of youth.

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

C. Position Requirements:

Education:

• Credentials preferred are a Bachelors Degree of Science in Therapeutic Recreation or equivalent, with one (1) to three (3) years of experience.

Other Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.

• Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in the state where the work site is located only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

D. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the methodology involved in planning, promoting, developing, and supervising a recreation program.

• Knowledge of the problems encountered in planning, promoting, developing, and supervising a recreation program.

• Ability to organize, develop, and coordinate a recreation program.

• Knowledge of the problems involved in the leadership of several broad types of recreation activities.

• Ability to demonstrate, lead, and participate in several broad types of recreational activities.

• Ability to promote and organize recreation programs.

• Trained in delinquency services programming.

• Trained and proficient in group facilitation skills.

• Ability to give individualized instructions to participants.

• Ability to enforce safety precautions and give first aid.

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with participants, associates and the public.

• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.

• Ability to work with a variety of behaviors.

• Ability to tolerate verbal and mental abuse while maintaining a professional demeanor.

• Ability to perform appropriate crisis intervention involving student behavior, including physically breaking up fights in the classroom.

• Ability to complete pre-service and annual in-service CPR and first aid certification training and self-defense and physical intervention training.

• Ability to pass drug and TB screening and testing.

• Ability to work under pressure; meet inflexible deadlines; set priorities; deal diplomatically with difficult individuals; and supervise others; ability to manage multiple programs; lead management teams and work independently. Adherence to the highest ethical standards essential.

E. Equipment Utilized

• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

F. Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Talking: Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey details or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing and Vision: Ability to perceive the nature of sounds with no less than 40 dB loss at Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication. Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable employees to complete clerical tasks, and observe youth. Dexterity: Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of an object such as size, shape, and temperature. Movements frequently and regularly required using wrists, hands and/or fingers. Physical Strength: Ability to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally. Position is mostly standing and employee must be able to physically perform escalation matrix as defined in Protective Action Response. This may include, but is not limited to all countermoves and restraint techniques. Employee may be subject to temperature changes, but the employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside. Language: Ability to write complex sentences, using proper punctuation, and ability to communicate in complex sentences using normal word order with present and past tenses. Processing and Reasoning: Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as in verbal and physical confrontations. Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions and noise. Ability to assist youth with problem solving and maintaining self-control in volatile situations.

• The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions as they relate to travel. Work environment may involve exposure to noise, dust, fumes, dangerous machinery, chemicals, body fluids, falling objects, and aggressive verbal and physical behavior from students and weather and temperature extremes.

• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the company undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.