Activity/Recreation Therapy Manager

The Clinical Activity and Recreation Therapy Manager provides a program of therapeutic recreational and expressive therapy services to patients, serves as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and supports the facility's treatment program and philosophy.

JOB RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Serves as the department's fiscal manager: understands FTE management and overtime management, provides budget input to director, maintains familiarity with financial information, understands the department's expenses and revenues, etc.
• Carries out the personnel management activities associated with direct staff supervision, including screening and selection, orientation training and development, performance management, and employee relations functions.
• Observes a minimum of 2 groups per Recreation Therapist per quarter.
• Collects and interprets data from patient records to identify areas in need of development and improvement.
• Reports data findings to Quality Council and EOC in a timely manner when requested.
• Develops groups and programs ensuring age and diagnosis appropriate; modifies groups according to the changing needs of the patients and the patient community.
• Assists the Recreation Therapy team with assessments on all assigned cases; meets with each resident within timelines given, summarizing individual ability, motivation, and preference.
• Facilitates training for staff related to group facilitation and documentation of groups as needed or requested by Directors/Managers.
• Coordinates family night for the facility.
• Provides oversight to Challenge Course/Ropes Coordinator.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide information and necessary paperwork to those interested in attending the Challenge Course.
• Recommends to the treatment team effective alternatives or modification to treatment plans based on the patient progress and response to treatment plan.
• Provides therapeutic recreation and expressive therapy groups.
• Remains flexible in providing a variety of appropriate therapeutic interventions depending on patient needs and abilities.
• Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for clients.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

Ability to perform assignments with minimal supervision

Ability to work successfully under highly stressful conditions

Ability to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles

Capability of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis

Effective comprehensive reading skills, strong communication skills, written and verbal

Must have a working knowledge of computers

GENERAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Working conditions for all employees are as follows, but not limited to a psychiatric hospital setting; some risk involved in the event of aggressive patient(s); work load may include day, evening, night, weekend and/or holiday shifts. Employees occasionally exposed to blood borne pathogens, and loud noise levels. Mental demands described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job, but are not limited to the ability to remain calm in a stressful environment; and the emotional stability, physical stamina and agility to handle stress and respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Requirements include, but are not limited to the ability to communicate effectively with employees; the ability to effectively utilize communication equipment; the physical agility to manage cleaning equipment; the ability to read, write.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITON:

• Clinical Expertise: A master's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field.
• Licensure: Alaska LCSW or LPC licensure or eligibility for licensure preferred.
• Therapeutic Skills: Proficiency in providing psychotherapeutic services.
• Current national registration as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) preferred.
• Supervisory or management experience is strongly preferred.
• Communication: Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be willing and able to execute the patient de-escalation methods, both verbal and physical.
• Must be able to complete new hire requirements such as State of Alaska Background Check and Drug Testing.
• Must be able to demonstrate special training, knowledge and skills specific to age groups, as well as job and/or program specific competency within the first three (3) months of training.
• Must be certified in CPR and Handle with Care within the first month of training and annually thereafter.
• Must complete all mandatory in-services annually.
• Must be tested for Tuberculosis with a PPD skin test or chest x-ray upon hire; PPD skin test required annually or chest x-ray annually thereafter.