Big Meadows Frontier Hollow Lyndon Play and Learn Center Lyndon Progress Center Pinnacle Place S.T.R.I.V.E. Winning Wheels.

 

Therapeutic Recreation Director

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Therapeutic Recreation Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that an on-going program of activities designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident is maintained.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

As Therapeutic Recreation Director, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of, specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

RISK EXPOSURE CATEGORIES:

1 = Tasks may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.
2 = Tasks do not involve contact with blood/body fluids but could result in performing a Category I task
3 = Tasks do not involve any risk of exposure to blood/body fluids

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS:

  • Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the T.R. programs of this facility. 3
  • Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures. 3
  • Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures. 3
  • Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes. 3
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related TR needs of the resident. 3
  • Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of care plans and resident assessments. 3
  • Interview resident/families as necessary and in a private setting. 3
  • Maintain a balance of recreational activities including physical, social, religious, diversional, intellectual, creative arts and crafts.3
  • Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, rep6rts, etc. 3
  • Involve the resident/family in planning TR programs when possible. 3
  • Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the T.R. department and maintain a productive working relationship with other staff. 3
  • Review and evaluate the department's work force and make recommendations to the Administrator. 3
  • Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary. 3
  • Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel. 3
  • Interpret policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc. 3
  • Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in TR program that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities. 3
  • Review and develop a plan of correction for T.R. deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Administrator. 3
  • Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related TR functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded. 3
  • Assist the Quality Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies. 3
  • Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the TR department. 3
  • Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies. 3
  • Interview residents or family members to obtain TR information. 3
  • Assure that all TR progress notes charted are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service. 3
  • Arrange transportation for outings monthly. 3
  • Conduct outing sign up monthly. 3
  • Notify guest speakers with outings of our engagement with them. 3
  • Ensure Health and Fitness Documentation is current. 3
  • The Director will also provide an Administrative designee advisor to Resident's Council and shall schedule a time and place for meeting. 3

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS:

Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as required and appointed by the Administrator. 3 Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to TR services. 3 Meet with TR personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. 3 Attend meetings as scheduled or as may be called. 3

PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS:

Recruit, interview, and select personnel for the TR department. 3 Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the TR department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of T.R. personnel for each tour of duty. 3 Counsel/discipline TR personnel as requested or as necessary. 3 Maintain an excellent working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate the TR program to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption. 3 Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work. 3

STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his job position and duties. 3 Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status. 3

SAFETY AND SANITATION:

  • Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the TR department. 3
  • Monitor department personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies. 3
  • Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner. 3
  • Ensure that all department personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes. 3
  • Ensure that department personnel participate in all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner. 3
  • Assure that department personnel-follow established procedures governing exposure to blood/body fluids. 3

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS:

Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary.3 Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly. 3 Develop and implement procedures that ensure activity supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste. 3

CARE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS:

Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the TR needs of each resident. 3 Develop a written plan of care for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident. 3 Encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care. 3 Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary. 3

RESIDENT RIGHTS:

Maintain the "confidentiality" of all resident care information. 3 Ensure that all TR personnel are knowledgeable of the residents, rights and responsibilities. 3 Participate in resident council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council. 3 Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint. 3 Knock before entering a resident's room. 3

MISCELLANEOUS:

Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling Maintain current written records of department expenditures. 3 Maintain petty cash box balance. 3 Assist bed residents by visiting with them, writing letters, playing games, etc. as necessary. 3 Provide reading materials in braille, tapes, and records as necessary.3

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Works in office areas, as well as throughout the facility.
  • Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
  • Is subject to frequent interruptions.
  • Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
  • Is subject to emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
  • Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department supervisors.
  • Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
  • Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
  • Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day.
  • May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
  • Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for resident activities.

EDUCATION

Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree in Therapeutic. Recreation and certifiable by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation certification.

EXPERIENCE

Must be a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist who is eligible for certification as a recreation specialist.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Must:

  • Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language;
  • Possess the ability to make independent decisions when' circumstances warrant such action;
  • Possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public;
  • Possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise professional and non-professional personnel;
  • Have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning;
  • Possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices;
  • Be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

Must be able to:

  • Move intermittently throughout the workday;
  • Speak and write the English language in an understandable manner;
  • Cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position;
  • See and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met;
  • Function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies;
  • Be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
  • Relate to and work with the ill, disabled, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility;
  • Lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of 100 pounds;
  • Assist in the evacuation of residents;
  • Reposition, give pressure reliefs and transfer residents as needed.

Tasks assigned to this position may involve exposure to blood or body fluids.