Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan, and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. Metropolitan delivers high quality health services with compassion, dignity, and respect to all, without exception. Since its founding in 1875, the hospital has been affiliated with New York Medical College, representing the oldest partnership between a hospital and a private medical school in the United States. Metropolitan is a part of the NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Job Description

·                  Establishes and implements a balanced, comprehensive therapeutic recreation program consisting of groups and individual sessions that utilize principles and practices of recreation therapy in accordance with patient capabilities, needs, and interests

·                  Conducts individual assessments of patient's strengths and weaknesses to evaluate emotional, social, cognitive, physical, and spiritual functioning through recreation therapy

·                  Develops treatment goals and objectives based on initial and ongoing assessments to improve functioning through recreation therapy

·                  Implements interventions through art, music, dance, exercise, writing, games, socials, and other modalities to facilitate the patient's attainment of treatment plan goals

·                  Directs learning experiences to teach coping skills, influence behavioral change, and improve patient insight

·                  May lead group therapy and other discussion groups

·                  Evaluates daily functioning of programs

·                  Adapts programs and interventions to meet the functioning level of patients

·                  Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary team by attending meetings, contributing to treatment team plans, and communicating clinical information to the team

·                  Writes progress notes on patient's behavior and responses to interventions

·                  Assists in the orientation and skills development of new staff as required

·                  May develop and conduct in-service training

·                  May oversee and provide guidance for therapeutic recreation students and volunteers

·                     Maintains functional operational level of equipment, supplies, and work areas

·                     Works weekends, holidays, and various tours as needed

·                     Attends all departmental meetings, supervision, and mandated in-services

·                     Performs other duties as assigned