RECREATION THERAPIST (CERT) - Universal Health Services : Job Details

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward thinking and compassionate CERTIFIED RECREATION/ACTIVITY THERAPIST (CTRS) to be part of our Social Services Team. The Recreation Therapist is responsible for planning and implementing activity services for assigned program, which involves defining and implementing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Art, Music, or Recreation therapy, humanities, social work or related therapeutic discipline.

Experience: One (1) year of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illness, preferred.

Licensure: Certification or licensure as CTRS is required.

Additional Requirements: Successful completion of CPR Certification and successful completion of Handle with Care training. Certification and training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

Assessment

* Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.

* Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards

treatment plan goals.

* Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Program Coordinator

* Provide assessment in psychosocial/leisure recreational skills development/deficiency within 72hours

Interventions

* Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's

plan of care.

* Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required

* Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning

* Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria

* Maintain current documentation in daily progress notes, including the patient's name, date of therapy, name of therapeutic group/intervention and summary of session.

Milieu

* Effectively plans and implements activity therapy for assigned patient case load within the facility,

as well as outside the hospital as required.

* Monitor therapeutic space, supplies and equipment and ensures they are kept in a clean, orderly and

safe condition.

* Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining

therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients.

* Demonstrate knowledge of groups dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.

Performance Accountability

* Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients,

licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.

* Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld

* Report therapeutic services charges daily, substantiating any changes in the treatment notes.

* Attend program meetings and maintain related records

* Provide direction, education, and in-service to other unit personnel regarding activity therapy

* Participate in performance improvement activities (i.e.im-services, conferences or seminars)

* Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities, delegates duties to other personnel as appropriate, and demonstrate good judgement when making decisions.

* Adhere to facility, department and Corporate Personnel Policies and procedures

* Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled.

* Support facility-wide quality/performance improvement goals and objectives

* Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

Qualifications

Teaching

* Model and teach appropriate social skills.

* Teach coping skills and stress management techniques to patients.

* Carry out teaching activities identified in the treatment plan.

Treatment Planning

* Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to

therapy, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.

* Contribute to treatment plan with specific goals and interventions to be achieved in therapeutic

* Completion of Master Treatment Plan within 72hours admission with patient specific goals and interventions listed.

Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11

* Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.

* Maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for behavior related to child development arise.

* Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior.

* Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.

* Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning disabled child.

* Relate to child patients in an age appropriate manner.

* Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issue.

* Act as a resource to other staff in regard to the Child Patient Programs.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adult Patients Ages 19 through 64

* Gather information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use judgments based on knowledge of adult behaviors in treatment planning and interventions.

* Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise behaviors and non-judgement terms

* Utilize seclusion/restraint procedures applicable to adult body size and past history of violent or emotional behaviors.

* Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise behaviors

* Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of adult care within Specific Standards of Care for this age group.

Specific Standards for the Care of Geriatric Patients Ages 65 and older

* Maintain knowledge of the developmental tasks and sociological theories of aging.

* Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of gerontological health care and behavioral care

* Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use therapeutic judgement based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.

* Utilize interventions based on gerontological theory to restore patient's functional capabilities and to prevent complication and excess disability.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

* Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.

* Knowledge in one or more program disciplines (i.e. art, recreation, and/or music therapy).

* Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques.

* Thorough knowledge and training in CPR.

* Knowledge of all code procedures.

* Knowledge of adolescent and adult program rules and protocols.

* Excellent leadership skills.

* Effective Human Relations skills.

* Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.

* Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.

* Effective oral and written communication skills.

* Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.

* Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures.

* Ability to use good judgment and to maintain confidentiality of information.

* Ability to work as a team player.

* Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication.

* Ability to problem solve, utilizing good judgment.

* Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.

* Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).

* Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

* Ability to meet corporate deadlines.

* Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPECIAL DEMANDS

MODIFICATIONS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS JOB MA Y BE PERFORMED WILL BE REVIEWED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

* Ability to stand sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours.

* Ability to move frequently is required in the delivery of patient care.

* Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.

* Ability to spend 20% of the work day outdoors in temperatures varying form 30-100F and 80% of the work day indoors in temperatures varying from 60-85F.

* Ability to occasionally push/pull wheeled carts from 200 Ibs. (i.e., crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs).

* Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 Ibs.. (i.e. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 100 Ibs. (a patient).

* Ability to frequently reach above, at or below shoulder height (obtain supplies, reach in cabinets, use refrigerator), kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist.

* Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping, twisting and fingering of small objects (telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands).

* Ability to operate a van in a safe manner.

* Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors.

* Ability to occasionaly handle hazardous/infectious waste.

* Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazardous may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and stram are frequently generated in housekeeping task

Additional Requirements:

A strong knowledge of The Joint Commission, HCFA, OSHA regulations, and patient rights standards and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.

One of the nation's largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. UHS is recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America's Top 500 Public Companies.

EEO Statement:

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.

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