Recreational Therapist Job Description

Recreational Therapist Job Description

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Recreational therapist provides in-service education in the field of Therapeutic Recreation to other members of the health care staff, as needed.

Recreational Therapist Duties & Responsibilities

To write an effective recreational therapist job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included recreational therapist job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Be responsible for providing a full range of recreation therapy services including assessment, treatment planning and therapeutic interventions in a manner consistent with the position's qualifications, professional practices and ethical standards
Provide recreation therapy services both independently and in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team
Assisting in scheduling activities
Participating and observing patients during activities
Tracking progress and recording goals
Consulting with residents
Meet with individual and family at least two times a month for family sessions
Meet with individual and psychiatrist monthly for drug management as needed
Keep meticulous notes for each therapy session, whether individual or group
Documents group participation, according to documentation requirements

Recreational Therapist Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Recreational Therapist

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: NCTRC, CPR, BLS, CTRS, NRPA, CPRP, RT, AHA

Education for Recreational Therapist

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the recreational therapist job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Therapy, Education, Recreation, Recreation Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Creative Arts, Art, Music

Skills for Recreational Therapist

Desired skills for recreational therapist include:

Rehabilitative techniques relative to recreation for persons with diverse neurological impairment
Current theory and practice in therapeutic and rehabilitative recreation
Recreation therapy
Basic principles and techniques needed in providing appropriate mental health care
Leisure activities and processing techniques
Team building activities
Variety of sports
Arts and crafts
Developing
Methodology involved in planning

Desired experience for recreational therapist includes:

Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Recreation or related field is required
Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Sports Management with a track in Recreational Therapy
C.T.R.S
Must posses a current certification in recreational therapy
Previous experience with patient population preferred
1-3 years in an acute care psych setting is preferred

Recreational Therapist Examples

1

Recreational Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is hiring for a recreational therapist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for recreational therapist
  • Provides recreational therapeutic assessment of patients admitted to the Unit
  • Plans and provides leisure educational activities
  • Reviews notes pertaining to clients backgrounds
  • Implements and coordinates therapeutic activity programming for adult and geriatric age inpatient population
  • Evaluates and establishes individualized treatment plans, and documents progress towards treatment goals
  • Opportunities are provided for individual, small group, and large group participation
  • Demonstrate accountability for and contribution to program development, quality improvement, problem solving and productivity enhancement in a flexible interdisciplinary fashion
  • Graduate of an accredited four year bachelors degree therapeutic recreation program
  • Hold an applicable and current license/certification to practice as a Recreational Therapist
  • Certification by the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Specialists is desirable
Qualifications for recreational therapist
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers issued by the American Heart Association is required
  • 4 Year Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Or Therapeutic Recreational Therapy required
  • One (1) year of experience as a Recreational Therapist is preferred
  • Shared Services Administrator (San Francisco, CA)
  • Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from an accredited institution in therapeutic recreation or behavioral health related services
  • One-two years experience working with the frail, elderly or Long Term Care population
2

Recreational Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is looking to fill the role of recreational therapist. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for recreational therapist
  • Provides professional therapeutic programming and services to behavioral health patients on a designated unit in a manner consistent with the philosophy and objectives of Research Psychiatric Center
  • Planning and implementing activity services for assigned program
  • Defining and implementing treatment goals
  • Providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients
  • Assessment, teaching, documentation, crisis intervention
  • Comply with goals, objectives and procedures for the Recreational Services Department
  • Plans Recreational Therapy program involving such activities as leisure, education, sports and games, singing, dancing, creating music, exercise programs, and occupational programs
  • Adapts program according to the needs of the individual patients
  • Conduct individual assessment to identify the participants’ individual interests/needs
  • Develop and implement an appropriate variety of individual and group activities
Qualifications for recreational therapist
  • Must be knowledgeable of current recreational therapy practices and procedures, laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care
  • Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing recreational therapy practices
  • Must possess the ability to communicate tactfully with personnel, participants, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the public
  • Minimum of BA in related field and current license/certification
  • Must maintain current valid driver's license
  • Recreation Therapist Certified (RTC)
3

Recreational Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of recreational therapist. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for recreational therapist
  • Maintain written documentation of recreation therapy services rendered including documentation of initial assessment, follow-up visits and discharge summary consistent with organizational standards
  • Serve as a clinical instructor for students of recreation therapy
  • Participate in interdisciplinary care planning
  • Coordinate the recreation documentation for the group participants
  • Assist with training and supervising volunteers and/or youth job program assistants/student interns and their activities
  • Lead facility wide participant-centered events
  • Interviews and Observes Veterans to Assess Aptitudes and Interests
  • Performs other Certified Recreation Therapist related duties as assigned
  • Involvement may include increase awareness and accessibility of community resources including recreation
  • Participates in a minimum of one continuing education offering relevant to the strategic objectives of the organization and the professional development plan discussed with the manager
Qualifications for recreational therapist
  • BS/Masters from an accredited University with degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Current Certified Therapeutic Recreational Therapist registration (CTRS), Certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) OR
  • Current Certified Therapeutic Recreational Therapist registration
  • Biannual BLS (CPR) issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association
  • Completion of mid-cycle CPR demonstration
  • Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in Therapeutic Recreation, or bachelor’s degree in a related field with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation
  • Previous experience working in recreational therapy or related setting preferred
4

Recreational Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is hiring for a recreational therapist. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for recreational therapist
  • Maintains communication with supervisor related to service needs such as necessary supplies, equipment and clinical training in order to effectively complete assigned duties Actively participates in patient and professional advocacy efforts that may include, lobbying activities, health fairs, community level events, professional memberships, and fundraising / charitable activities
  • Conduct individual assessments to identify the participants’ individual leisure needs and function
  • Develop,implement, and evaluate appropriate therapeutic individual and group activities
  • Develop therapeautic interventions including community acess, leisure adaptation, leisure resources, and leisure education
  • Work with participants, families, and caregivers to provide leisure in homes
  • Participate in interdisciplinary team care planning and care management
  • Individual and group documentation evaluating functional change
  • Assesses patients, develops and implements treatment programs to meet the goals of treatment services and patient needs
  • Establishes treatment goals
  • Evaluates therapy results and modifies treatment plans accordingly
Qualifications for recreational therapist
  • Current national certification from NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or eligible to take exam required
  • Certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or eligibility for certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
  • Must apply for the NCTRC examination within one month of hire into the Recreational Therapist job and sit for the examination within the first six months of hire
  • BS in Behavioral Sciences
  • Graduate of an accredited college or university
  • BA or BS Degree in Therapeutic Recreation Services or related field
5

Recreational Therapist Job Description

Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is looking to fill the role of recreational therapist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for recreational therapist
  • Participates as an active member of the treatment team
  • Participates in the department and service delivery unit’s quality improvement programs
  • Evaluates and assists in procurement of needed resources
  • Implements treatment and discharge plans, updates treatment goals and plans
  • Educates patients and significant others and meets departmental productivity standards
  • Maintains communication in writing, electronically, or verbally with other members of the treatment team, including physicians and 3rd party payers
  • Participates in leadership and management function, including community outreach, marketing, cost containment, program development, and mentoring new staff and students
  • Perform developmentally / functionally appropriate assessments according to standards of practice to determine course of treatment
  • Complete all documentation on time according to hospital and department policies
  • Conduct individual sessions, team treats, procedural support, and patient family teaching in a developmentally and culturally appropriate manner
Qualifications for recreational therapist
  • Prefer prior experience working with a psychiatric mental health population, preferably in an inpatient setting
  • American Heart Assocation BLS required
  • Current certification as a Recreational Therapist (CTRS) is preferred
  • If Occupational Therapist Assistant, COTA certification is required within initial 90 days of employment
  • Certified and/or registered by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (NCTRS)
  • Graduate of a school of Therapeutic Recreation with possession of a bachelor or master degree from an accredited college or university

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