Recreation Therapist 2 - 03262024- 56292

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MEMPHIS MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE DIVISION, SHELBY COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services, recreation, psychology, sociology, recreation therapy, education, allied health, or mental health/human services and experience equivalent to one year of full-time experience in recreation therapy or responsible professional experience in therapy, education or recreation work.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional graduate coursework from an accredited college or university in rehabilitation services, recreation, recreation therapy or education may be substituted for the required experience on a year for year basis.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying full-time experience in recreation, teaching, or in providing aid or assistance to disabled individuals may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Positions within the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Human Services will be required to:

1. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;

2. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;

3. Supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records check;

4. Submit to a review of their status on the Department of Health¿s vulnerable persons registry.

Summary

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional recreation therapy duties of average difficulty; performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class plans and executes recreational activities, therapies, and programs. This class differs from Recreation Therapist 1 in that an incumbent of the latter performs work of a less responsible nature. This class differs from Recreation Therapist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter supervises or assists a supervisor in planning a therapeutic program at a facility or agency and may supervise a staff of professional and para-professional recreation therapy personnel.

Responsibilities

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

• Implements behavior education systems with clients to ensure successful independent living skills by creating behavior change plans and contracts, providing individual behavior change interventions with documentation, and intervening as needed when behaviors violate the standards of conduct.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

• Identifies goals and objectives for individuals engaged in recreational therapy relying upon individual assessments, therapist observations, referrals, and inter-disciplinary team findings to ensure appropriate services and activities are provided.
• Develops therapeutic treatment plans/recreational therapy goals to ensure client outcomes are met.
• Assesses, plans, evaluates, and implements recreational activities of individuals engaged in therapy to assist in meeting desired client outcomes.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Assures that departmental/facility policy is carried out as recreation therapy is being implemented to comply with state/federal law and accrediting bodies.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Develops constructive, cooperative, professional and harmonious working relationships with staff and clients to ensure quality and timely services.

Analyzing Data or Information:

• Identifies psychosocial, behavioral, or physical problems of individuals to assist with meeting client needs.
• Evaluates progress data of individuals to assess their advancement toward meeting their goals and objectives.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Assesses whether recreation therapy provided is safe and appropriate for the physical needs of the client.
• Identifies goals and objectives for individuals engaged in recreational therapy relying upon individual assessments, personal observations, referrals, and inter-disciplinary team findings to ensure appropriate techniques and services are provided.
• Evaluates and assesses client progress to determine readiness for re-entry into the workforce/independent living.

Coaching and Developing Others:

• Assists in training direct care staff so that the client receives the correct and appropriate services.
• Works with paraprofessional personnel to train and assist in carrying out therapeutic programs to meet the needs of the client.
• Provides a teaching setting for interns to provide them with skills they will need for future employment.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Implements various recreational activities such as social interactions, anger management, healthy lifestyles, coping skills, leisure education, character education, creative expression, and physical activities to assist in meeting desired client outcomes.
• Implements clinical care activities to provide resources for successful client outcomes.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

• Provides input and information to other therapists and inter-disciplinary teams about the effectiveness of individuals adapting to recreational therapy programs to ensure client goals and objectives are met.

Thinking Creatively:

• Demonstrates awareness of individual differences by delivering instructions that are always appropriate for individual needs.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Completes work assignments in the designated time frames to meet facility guidelines.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

• Implements activities in a therapeutic plan in order to develop psychosocial skills, independent living skills or the physical development of individuals engaged in recreational therapy to ensure appropriate client outcomes are achieved.
• Follows state facility emergency response plans to ensure safety of clients and staff.
• Implements recreational activities for all clients who want to participate in recreational services.

Interacting With Computers:

• Operates computer hardware and software, scanners, and other equipment to complete reports, document collective data, and communicate with others to capture and maintain program information.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Records the progress and reactions of individuals engaged in recreational therapeutic activities to evaluate their advancement toward meeting desired outcomes.
• Completes recreational assessments within the facilities' established timeframes to create client goals, outcomes, and objectives.
• Completes recreational discharge summaries to give clients information on how they can continue recreational programs within their community.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

• Evaluates the outcomes of therapeutic programs in relation to individual needs to determine if appropriate and beneficial services are provided to clients.
• Reviews client input to determine the quality of services provided.

Getting Information:

• Assesses the skill level, ability, and interests of individuals engaged in recreational activities to ensure client outcomes are met.
• Observes and assesses individuals engaged in recreational therapy and gathers information regarding their progress toward goals and objectives.
• Reviews client documentation to obtain important information regarding client needs and ability levels.

Performing General Physical Activities:

• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds, walk and stand for extended periods of time, and provide other physical activities as required to perform job tasks.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Communicates relevant information to supervisor and co-workers by telephone, in written form, email or in-person to provide information and for consultation and accreditation.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

• Has knowledge of and practices wheelchair van procedures to ensure safety.
• Follows center and state regulations while driving state vehicles to ensure safety.
• Maintains and secures appropriate motor vehicle operating license and endorsement in a timely manner to provide transportation as needed.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

• Reports any equipment which needs repairing or any shortage of supplies to the supervisor to guarantee the appropriate number and types of equipment and supplies are readily accessible.
• Maintains care and storage of recreational equipment and supplies to ensure available resources are well maintained and in good condition.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

• Schedules therapeutic activities for clients to meet desired outcomes.

Communicating with Persons outside the Organization:

• Provides input and information to other therapists about the effectiveness of individuals adapting to recreational therapy programs to ensure the continuity of services provided.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Attends state organization's required annual trainings to increase knowledge of policies and procedures.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Creativity
• Organizing
• Time Management
• Written Communications
• Compassion
• Customer Focus
• Listening

Knowledge:

• Administration and Management
• Clerical
• Communications and Media
• Computers and Electronics
• Customer and Personal Service
• Education and Training
• Fine Arts
• Law and Government
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Psychology
• Public Safety and Security
• Therapy and Counseling
• Transportation

Skills:

• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Learning Strategies
• Mathematics
• Monitoring
• Reading and Writing
• Communication
• Instructing
• Negotiation
• Persuasion
• Service Orientation
• Social Perceptiveness
• Equipment Maintenance
• Equipment Selection
• Operation and Control
• Management of Material Resources
• Time Management
• Independent Living Skills
• Fine Motor Skills
• Gross Motor Skills and Flexibility

Abilities:

• Processing and Expressing Information
• Stamina
• Basic Physical Fitness
• Depth Perception
• Far Vision
• Glare Sensitivity
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Night Vision
• Peripheral Vision
• Sound Localization
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition
• Visual Color Discrimination

Tools & Equipment

• Computers
• Fax Machine
• Copiers
• Proxy Cards
• Auto Visual Equipment
• Exercise Equipment
• Recreational Equipment
• Motor Vehicles
• Wheelchair Lifts
• Communication Equipment
• Circuit Breakers
• Restraints
• ADL (Activities Daily Living) Equipment

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.