THERAPEUTIC
ACTIVITIES SPECIALIST
2312
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
An employee
in this class is responsible for planning, directing and providing for a
therapeutic and rehabilitative recreation program designed to meet the
requirements, interests and needs of patients in a residential health care
facility. The intent of the program is
to create an environment and offer opportunities for active participation in
activities with emphasis on working with the healthy aspects of the patients by
providing physical, intellectual, social and emotional stimulation much in the
same way as everyday life in the community.
The incumbent plans, directs and participates in the work to assure that
all programs are properly planned and executed.
Work is performed under the general direction of an administrative
supervisor who reviews the achievements of the therapeutic recreation program
through observation and personal conferences.
Supervision is exercised over the work of support staff and
volunteers. Does related work as
required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Plans,
organizes and directs a program of appropriate therapeutic recreational
activities consistent with the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of facility
patients;
Interviews patients to
determine interests and to develop an activities program for inclusion into
their total care plan;
Utilizes community
resources in the conduct of activities programs such as community events,
service projects and entertainment groups;
Orders supplies and
equipment and maintains inventories for the facility activities programs;
Interprets therapeutic
recreation's objectives and goals to administrative and other professional
staff;
Conducts periodic
meetings and in-service training programs for staff;
Arranges for
transportation to enable patients to attend or participate in community affairs
and outings;
Reviews program
participation with patients and records findings and any changes;
Assigns duties to and
supervises activities program staff and volunteers;
Submits periodic reports
on the progress, effectiveness and value of established recreation programs;
Acts as consultant to
personnel of community and other governmental agencies on the principles and
practices of therapeutic recreation.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of therapeutic
recreation; thorough knowledge of the problems of aged, ill and disabled
persons as they relate to an activities program; good knowledge of
administrative and supervisory techniques; good knowledge of specific diseases,
disabilities and medical terminology; good knowledge of community resources,
current developments, literature and sources of information in the field of
therapeutic recreation; ability to instruct and supervise others in functions
and techniques of the activities program; ability to explore and utilize
available community resources applicable to residential health care facility
activities programs; ability to prepare and maintain records and reports;
ability to plan and project for future needs of the agency's therapeutic
recreation department; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the
position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPEN
COMPETITIVE
Either:
a) A qualified therapeutic
recreation specialist who is eligible for certification as a therapeutic
recreation specialist*; or,
b) Two (2) years of
experience in an age-appropriate social or recreational program within the last
five (5) years, one (1) of which was full-time in a patient or resident
activities program in a health care setting; or,
c) A qualified
occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant*.
* As defined in the
R 4/3/92
Competitive
RR 1/19/96