Therapeutic Recreation Leader Part Time

Since 1848, The New Jewish Home has helped older New Yorkers live full and meaningful lives by providing outstanding health care and innovative programming. The New Jewish Home is a comprehensive, mission-driven nonprofit health care system serving older adults of all faiths, ethnicities, and income levels.

We proudly partner with leading hospitals to provide specialized short-stay rehabilitation and we house our own research institute to inform and enhance our care and also disseminate our findings nationally. We offer long-term (nursing home) care in Manhattan and Westchester, which is person-directed and caters to the preferences of our residents. We focus on creating a real home, full of engaging Therapeutic Recreation programs. For community-based older adults, we offer adult day health care and home care services to help them remain in the community with the care and support they need. Both our Manhattan and Westchester facilities are accredited by the Joint Commission, and last year, our Manhattan facility earned the highest possible assessment by U.S. News & World Report for its rehabilitation program. Our Manhattan skilled nursing facility is the only one in NYC to staff full-time Mount Sinai physicians and nurse practitioners.

The TNJH provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce. TNJH is also excited to announce it’s partnership with RAIN, which allows employees to access a portion of their paycheck before payday!

The New Jewish Home (TNJH) provides a salary range to comply with the New York City Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and organizational need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

The Therapeutic Recreation Department is seeking a Therapeutic Recreation Leader part time to join our team. The work hours is 22.5 hours and location is 120 West 106th Street, NY, NY 10025. The work schedule is Monday to Friday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Job Title: Therapeutic Recreation Leader

Job Summary: Under the supervision of the Director of Client Experience and Meaningful Life, the Therapeutic Recreational Leader conducts individual resident/patient assessments to identify interests and needs, maintains clinical and other records within departmental policies and practices, as well as DOH/CMS standards, and participates in care planning and meetings for an assigned group of residents/patients. The Therapeutic Recreation Leader develops, plans, coordinates, conducts and evaluates a variety of Therapeutic Recreation programs, leisure activities, individual interventions, and collaboratively develops and conducts facility-wide events, to promote optimal physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual well-being of residents/patients, based on resident/patient needs and preferences.

Reports To: Director of Client Experience and Meaningful Life

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts individual assessments, reassessments and monitoring to determine resident/patient recreational needs and interests.

• Completes all clinical documentation for assigned group of residents on a timely basis, within departmental and facility policies and practices, and to DOH/CMS standards, including assessments, progress notes, care plans, and any other documentation as may be appropriate/required.

• Works with care plan team to develop and implement the plan of care. Attends and participates in interdisciplinary care plan meetings.

• Develops, plans, coordinates, produces, and distributes a monthly calendar/schedule of Therapeutic Recreation programs and leisure activities based on resident needs and preferences for assigned population.

• Conducts planned recreational programs according to schedule.

• Conducts unscheduled leisure activities that may be beneficial to the population served. 2 of 4

• Conducts recreational programs in other areas of the Home as may be needed or as may be desirable as a means of sharing specialized skills such as art, music or other specialties.

• Works collaboratively with other staff to coordinate, participate in, or lead facilitywide events.

• Develops and implements individual activities for those residents who are in need of, or who prefer, one-to-one recreational activity.

• Provides adaptive interventions as needed to enable residents to maximize participation.

• Works with unit teams, coordinates and facilitates escort/transportation for residents to attend events.

• Plans and accompanies residents on recreational outings.

• Provides education and assistance to residents for voter registration and absentee ballots.

• Guides, directs, provides information to, and provides oversight to Therapeutic Recreation Aides, Therapeutic Recreation student interns, volunteers and others; provides feedback to department director.

• Provides clinical guidance, mentoring and education for other staff members regarding conducting activities and leisure opportunities.

• Encourages and motivates residents to participate in recreational pursuits, and assists in escorting/transporting residents to such activities.

• Coordinates postings on the activity bulletin board and other displays in a timely manner, including posting planned activities on a weekly or other scheduled basis as determined by the needs of the residents/patients. Keeps boards/displays current. Designs and publicizes communications, signs and invitations.

• Conducts Activity Planning Meetings with residents, as appropriate. Follows up and evaluates residents’ requests for potential inclusion in future programming.

• Prepares supplies for recreation programs.

• Monitors supply inventory and submits orders to Director for materials, supplies and resources for resident activities and makes resources available to other staff.

• Oversees decoration supplies and the display of seasonal decorations.

• Sustains an effective working knowledge about each resident and staff of the community.

• Develops and maintains positive relationship/communication with residents and their families and friends, as well as staff and volunteers.

• Maintains required records in an accurate and timely fashion. Ensures completion of attendance log.

• Attends departmental meetings, team meetings, staff development classes, other meetings as may be needed.

• Completes mandatory in-services.

• Works a flexible schedule to facilitate the Therapeutic Recreation operations of the facility.

• Complies with The New Jewish Home’s departmental and facility policies and procedures. 3 of 4

• Provides Therapeutic Recreation services in compliance with federal and state guidelines.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The New Jewish Home (TNJH) provides a salary range to comply with the New York City Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and organizational need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

Specialized Skills and Competencies:

Assessment / Planning:

• Must possess the ability to assess residents through interview techniques and behavioral observation.

• Must be able to monitor and reassess residents’ functional ability and respond appropriately.

• Must possess the ability to plan/conduct age-appropriate and person-appropriate recreation programs and other leisure activities/interventions that satisfy cognitive, physical, social and emotional needs of the residents and guide residents to spiritual activities that meet their needs.

• Must possess ability to assess leisure barriers and plan interventions.

Knowledge:

• Must have a working knowledge of regulations, practices, procedures and guidelines pertaining to long term care, Therapeutic Recreation and if appropriate, in field of specialization.

Leadership:

• Must possess the ability to plan, coordinate, organize, develop, conduct, and evaluate recreational programs necessary for providing quality care.

• Must be able to guide, mentor, teach and provide oversight to volunteers, Therapeutic Recreation Aides and Therapeutic Recreation Student Interns.

• Must be able to provide clinical guidance, mentoring and education for other staff members regarding conducting activities and leisure opportunities.

Flexibility:

• Must be able to respond to the needs of the assigned unit(s) or areas, and the facility.

Age Related Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to relate to adult and geriatric populations in a manner that respects their needs and capabilities

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, Therapeutic Recreation or specialized field such as music therapy or art therapy

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with the geriatric population or completed internship in a geriatric setting and/or equivalent combination of experience and education. 4 of 4 Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit for long periods of time, stand, walk, bend, hear and speak.

• Ability to transport a person in a wheelchair.

• Ability to push/pull and lift/carry items up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising resident/client care. Submitted by: Eric Dietz Director of Therapeutic Recreation and Engagement