Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Margaret Shea Adult Healthcare Program

The Margaret M. Shea RN Adult Day Health Program (formerly known as the Mattapan Adult Day Health Program) is a program of Boston Medical Center (BMC) that provides structured day services in an ambulatory, home-like setting for adults who do not require 24-hour institutional care, but because of physical, cognitive and/or psychosocial impairment, are not completely able to live independently.

For many frail elderly, adult day care allows them to live alone, or with family, postponing and often preventing nursing home placement. The adult day health program also serves adults (age 18 and over) who may have disabilities that prevent them from being completely independent. This environment offers structure to clients who may be isolated, confused, or depressed. The program provides respite to the primary caregiver to be employed outside the home while their family member attends the day program.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Therapeutic Recreation Specialist conducts comprehensive assessment of clients with physical and functional deficits, as well as oversight and review of documentation by the Therapeutic Activities Coordinators. Working with the Director and all other ADH Program staff, the CTRS is responsible for the planning and implementing individual, small and large group activity programs to achieve and maintain optimal levels of independence and psychosocial functioning of the clients.

The CTRS may provide student and volunteer training and oversight according to departmental and BMC guidelines and participates in continuous education.

This position requires experience in general recreational activities programing for the elderly and adults with cognitive, physical and/or psychosocial limitations or disabilities.

Position: Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (Certified CTRS)     

Location: Boston, MA (Margaret Shea Adult Healthcare Program)

Schedule: 40 hours per week

ABOUT BMC:

At Boston Medical Center (BMC), our diverse staff works together for one goal — to provide exceptional and equitable care to improve the health of the people of Boston. Our bold vision to transform health care is powered by our respect for our patients and our commitment to ensure everyone who comes through our doors has a positive experience.

You’ll find a supportive work environment at BMC, with rich opportunities throughout your career for training, development, and growth and where you’ll have the tools you need to take charge of your own practice environment.  

JOB RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Conducts therapeutic recreation evaluation procedures according to professional and departmental guidelines.
• Initiates new client assessments within two scheduled client days
• Completes evaluation and documentation within 2 weeks of admission, in accordance to Adult Day Health regulations.
• Reviews patient records and gathers necessary information.
• Selects evaluation procedures that reflect understanding of the patient’s diagnoses, abilities and limitations.
• Interprets evaluation results, develops an integrated diagnostic impression, and makes recommendations.
• Performs re-evaluations according to departmental policies and professional best practices with changes in patient’s status or response to programing.
• With the client, care team and care giver, establishes therapeutic goals; provides educates patient and caregiver regarding evaluation findings and management care recommendations as needed.
• Incorporates findings and goals into the Interdisciplinary Care Plan
• Establishes treatment goals and plans that reflect the needs of the patients while meeting program, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
• With the client, care team and caregiver, formulates treatment goals and plans that reflect the client’s unique psychological and functional deficits. Establishes measurable and attainable short and long term goals in collaboration with patient and/or caregiver. Modifies goals as warranted by changes in client’s status.
• Should the client warrants a discharged from the program, assesses discharge needs of the patient and caregiver, and coordinate the discharge plan with the ADH nursing staff, social worker.
• Implements comprehensive individual, small and large group programing.
• Develop and implement treatment plans and programs by designing recreational activities selected to achieve individual specific objectives and needs, by providing individual and group activities, leisure education, therapeutic programs and general recreational opportunities
• Establishes Therapeutic Activity programing priorities based on evaluation results and the specific needs of individual clients and the collective needs of the entire ADH Program census.
• Demonstrates clinical problem solving skills with a variety of client problems and is able to substantiate actions taken. Adjusts patient treatment programs appropriately and terminates them as warranted by client’s progress and/ or a change in functional level.
• Develops and/or adapts age-appropriate recreational equipment, games, and activities. Plans, organizes, directs, and/or implements recreational activities which provide interest and pleasure and aid in each client’s individual goals.
• Helps develop, implement, and post a monthly recreation activities calendar that meets the mental, physical and psycho-social needs of ADH participants. Incorporates programing feedback from and through the Participant and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

Activity programs:

• Structured and planned to promote or help sustain the physical and emotional well‑being of each resident and maximize functional independence;
• Based on an assessment of each resident’s past and current interests and gross motor, self‑care, social, sensory, cognitive, and memory skills;
• Meaningful, purposeful and cognitively stimulating;
• Designed to enhance or maintain memory, to the extent practical;
• Designed to provide opportunities for physical, social and emotional outlets and self‑expression

• Ensures that activities schedules include a variety of meaningful activities that match the individual interests and functional needs of clients with an ISP. Participate in multi-service team meetings.
• Schedules, plans, and organizes community based trips, and special events in collaboration with team members and incorporates same in activities calendar.
• Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with all patients.
• Demonstrates the ability to engage clients in programing, provides reinforcement and support; sets limits appropriately
• Demonstrates competency in rehabilitation, more particularly in the following areas: avocational/leisure activity programming/counseling, community re-entry skills, social skills, and recreational/leisure adaptation.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age groups of the adult, and geriatric patients of the program.
• Adheres to diagnostic-related precautions. Demonstrates good judgment in handling potentially hazardous or unsafe situations, seeking assistance as necessary.
• Completes area specific documentation in an accurate, thorough and timely manner according to program standards and regulatory requirements 3.16 Enters daily client participation statistics in timely and accurate fashion; oversees the entry of statistics by coordinators and aides.
• Monitors and oversees the use of supplies, equipment and community resources to promote appropriate Recreation Therapy Services. Requests replacements in a timely manner to assure material is available for scheduled programing
• Submits receipts in a timely manner for any pre-approved purchases.

• Completes area specific documentation in an accurate thorough and timely manner according to program policies.  
• Completes BMC mandatory training requirements within given time frame. 4.3 Completes educational requirements to maintain Certification as established by The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
• Shows evidence of on-going professional growth and knowledge of regulations and standards.
• Initiates independent learning opportunities, seek out and integrate new information in daily practice. Communicates learning needs to Director.
• Stays current with advances in therapeutic recreation treatments through attendance at professional meetings, continuing education, and reading of current literature.
• Keeps current of local community resources and other existing recreation programs and activities in the Boston area. Shows knowledge of professional federal and state rules and regulations governing the practice of therapeutic recreation.
• Participates in the development and evaluation of the therapeutic recreation/ activity programs.

• Identifies ADH Program needs and assists in developing and achieving the Program’s goals.  Contributes to the development and updating of the Program shared files and other pertinent resource material.
• Maintains an awareness of the activities of the Quality Assurance Process Improvement Committee and Patient and Family Advisory Council; when appointed attends all meetings. 
• Collects and contributes to the analysis of data required to meet the Program’s quality assurance needs in compliance with ADH licensing standards. Contributes to the assessment, planning, and implementation of therapeutic recreation programs in collaboration with the Director and Therapeutic Activity Coordinators.
• May participate in the collection of clinical data for research as it relates to the delivery of therapeutic recreation services.

• Serves as clinical resource for other ADH staff as it pertains to therapeutic recreation/ activity programing.
• Ensures that Therapeutic Activity Coordinators and Program Aides are trained in all planned activities
• Oversee and develop facilitation skills of Therapeutic Activity Coordinators and Program Aides staff and supervise volunteers and students.
• Works as part of the ADH team, helping and supporting staff members as needed; listens to and seeks feedback from others; shares knowledge with others in positive manner; expresses opinions clearly.
• Accommodates to change by being adaptable and flexible and maintains professional demeanor during periods of stress. Assumes a leadership role and takes charge in difficult situations.
• Assist in the recruitment and training of recreation program volunteers. May assume responsibility for volunteer program development and implementation. 7.8 Attends and participates in all mandatory program meetings.  Arrives prepared and on time. Accepts and completes additional assignments as requested by the Director, including membership in program committees.
• Provides at least one evidence-based Program in-service annually. Provides in-services to other BMC departments as requested.
• May present at local or national conferences as poster or verbal presentation; presents information in a clear, organized, and concise manner.
• Participates responsibly in the supervisory process, follows through on suggestions and recommendations, and utilizes supervision time for own professional growth. Comes prepared to supervisory meets.
• Develops and meets annual goals with a high quality of performance.

• Provides a well-rounded learning experience for affiliating therapeutic recreation students, other medical professional staff and students, and the community as needed.
• Assesses the learning needs of assigned therapeutic recreation students and provides training in client evaluation and treatment procedures as practiced in the ADH program.
• Facilitates development of clinical problem solving skills of the affiliating students by asking probing questions.
• Schedules weekly meetings with assigned students providing growth-promoting feedback and learning experiences.
• Keeps student’s academic coordinator informed of student’s performance. Cooperates with student program coordinator and academic coordinator to develop and implement corrective actions when indicated. Conducts student performance evaluations, discusses evaluation with students, and submits the completed form to the student program coordinator in a timely fashion.
• Orients medical professional staff, families and the community (e.g. volunteers, high school initiatives) to therapeutic recreation.

The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Work requires a Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation (or Recreation with emphasis on Therapeutic Recreation).

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Must possess certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
• American Heart Association Basic Life Association basic CPR

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with the elderly, and/ or persons with cognitive or physical disabilities preferred. Experience with overseeing para-professionals or volunteers a plus.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Work requires interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interact with patients, families, and various members of the health care team.
• Work requires analytical abilities sufficient to evaluate patients’ condition, capabilities, and progress to develop appropriate treatment programs.
• To obtain Certification for ServSafe Food Handler and DPH Food Allergen Awareness

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to Talentacquisition@bmc.org or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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