Provides therapeutic recreational services to patients with complex conditions or injuries in a specialty service such as burns, brain injury, pain, and mental health. Assesses, plans, develops, implements, and modifies therapeutic recreation services as referred by a physician. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team.

Under general direction, assesses, plans, develops, and implements therapeutic recreation services for patients with complex physical and/or mental disabilities. Directs the work of and evaluates recreation therapy students and/or volunteers.

Performs complex assessments of patients in a specialty service; plans, organizes and implements therapeutic recreation plan of care to meet individual patient needs; implements intervention techniques to bring about specific behavioral change or improvement in patients;

Facilitates improvement of social, cognitive, emotional and physical functional abilities;

Instructs the patient in adapting to the recreational and community environment;

Organizes and leads recreational therapy activities both in and outside of the hospital environment;

Confers with the interdisciplinary team, individual patients, and family members to develop and recommend patients' therapeutic recreational program;

Directs, trains and coordinates the work of recreation therapy students and/or volunteers in therapeutic recreational procedures such as patient assessment and community integration; provides feedback to students on progress and completes evaluation for educational program;

Maintains statistical information and documentation related to patient care; evaluates the results of the individual patient plan;

Develops and maintains contact with appropriate community resources;

Operates state motor vehicle to transport patients on community outings;

Assists in securing resources and equipment for assigned area;

Develops and presents in-services to students and staff in specialty area;

Participates in clinical studies for the specialty;

Participates in Rehabilitation Quality Management activities to ensure effectiveness of programs;

Adheres to the mission, scope and standards of practices identified for recreation therapy;

Assists in securing resources and equipment for assigned area;

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of: skeletal, muscular, and neuron-anatomy; mental illness; principles, materials, and equipment of recreation therapy; various methods of provision in the physical, affective, social and cognitive realms; safety and risk management methods; assessment and evaluation reporting methods.

Ability to: assess, plan, provide, evaluate and modify programs/provisions to allow inclusive participation for individual patients; cooperative skills in working with patients; establish and maintain professional and working relationships with physicians and other treatment providers as well as other staff; instruct staff in areas of need regarding recreation therapy.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Graduation from an accredited Therapeutic Recreation Program AND 18 months of professional therapeutic recreation experience

                                                                            OR

Equivalent education/experience.