We enrich the lives of those we serve by providing a nurturing environment that fosters joy, purpose, and well-being. The Sharon at SouthPark is a continuing care retirement community for senior residents located near the heart of SouthPark. We are a non-profit long term care facility that offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. At the Sharon at SouthPark our team member's number one responsibility is to deliver compassionate resident care every time! We believe by demonstrating our unifying principles of stewardship, unity, purpose, excellence in service, respect, and beauty this can be achieved daily.
SUMMARY
The Recreation Therapist will collaborate with the team to design, create, and implement multi-dimensional programming that meets residents’ needs, wants, and goals. The RT will lead or assist in the execution of the daily designed programming for residents across the continuum. The RT will execute and support all documentation and regulatory needs for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES include the following (other duties may be assigned):
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Assists and supports the Vitality and Well-being Department with the planning and implementation of a multi-dimensional wellness program. This includes, but is not limited to, offerings and opportunities that meet the emotional, environmental, intellectual, musical, nutritional, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational, needs, wants, and goals of the residents.
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Assists with the specific planning, scheduling, and implementation of general recreation programming and 1:1 intervention for assigned area(s), based on the residents’ individualized needs as identified in each residents’ care plan.
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Plans, organizes, and leads therapeutic recreation programs in accordance with residents’ needs, capabilities, and interests in a group or 1:1 setting.
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Documentation to include general recreation assessments, progress notes, care plan development and monitoring, group program attendance records, 1:1 intervention records, and any physician ordered treatment referrals for Recreational Therapy to include assessment, care plan development and related progress notes.
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Responsible for obtaining Physician Orders for Recreational Therapy interventions identified for a resident. Will implement treatment sessions (up to a 1:4 ratio) and evaluate efficacy and effectiveness of treatment interventions in relation to resident progress.
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Responsible for ensuring resident plan of care is established to address problems, needs, and/or strengths and is written in measurable objectives and focused on desired outcomes.
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Participates in the development of the Recreational Therapy Program Protocols for group interventions. Knowledgeable of and responsible for following the Recreational Therapy Department Program Protocols for group interventions. Ensures appropriate guidelines are being followed for specific protocols when delivering services.
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Assists with maintaining current records of designated area(s) for the Facility Population Assessment Form and Resident Level of Functioning Form.
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Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team and attends designated team meetings.
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Assists with supervision of volunteers, Recreation Therapy interns and students in function within the Vitality and Well-being Department.
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Handles mail distribution for HC and AW residents.
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Attends in-service training and continuing education workshops as designated by the RTM and/or DVW.
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Comply with Federal and state regulations, state licensure (NCBRTL) and national certification (NCTRC) standards for credentials, as well as Professional Standards of Practice and ATRA (American Therapeutic Recreation Association) Code of Ethics.
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Adheres to personnel qualifications, competency requirement, policies, procedures and clinical privileges as appropriate.
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Complies with procedures for staff competencies and credentials required of staff in order to provide safe and effective treatment interventions.
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Responsible for general housekeeping duties in activity areas. Returns shared areas such as dining room and sun porches back to original condition at the conclusion of each activity in that area: i.e., rearranges furniture that may have been moved, removes refuse, picks up litter from floor, returns equipment and/or other supplies to appropriate storage areas, assists residents in transport to other areas of building, etc.
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Assists with maintaining an ongoing inventory of departmental supplies and equipment maintenance and reports needs to RTM.
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Assistance with regular cleaning of recreational supplies and equipment per cleaning schedule.
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Ensures all recreational equipment and supplies are in a clean working order; reports any damaged items to the RTM.
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Responsible for ensuring recreational supplies are available for evening and weekend groups lead by volunteers or nursing.
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Encourages recreation participation with residents and assists them as needed to/from general recreation programs and communicates with nursing personnel for purpose of assistance in transporting residents to and from general activity areas.
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Is aware of residents’ physical and dietary limitations. Adheres to these limitations consistent with Residents Rights.
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Remains on the alert for conditions that may interfere with the safety and well-being of residents, especially during recreational pursuits. Corrects and/or reports hazardous conditions to appropriate staff.
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Understands and closely follows all aspects of infection control policies and procedures.
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Follows the appropriate chain of command.
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Adheres to the defined policy for the Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Residents.
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Works in compliance with all HIPPA regulations and standards.
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Drives facility vehicles to recreation outings as assigned.
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Keeps professional matters confidential.
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Performs other duties and responsibilities as directed by the RTM and/or Director of Vitality and Well-being to support community wide objectives.
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Must possess a high level of flexibility and tolerance to adjust to changes in workloads, assignments, hours and days (i.e. holidays, evenings, and weekends).
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Must possess and maintain ongoing state licensure (NCBRTL) and national certification (NCTRC) for the designation of Recreational Therapist.
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Must have a basic knowledge of a variety of recreational programs and treatment interventions.
- Must exhibit the ability to give instruction to others and to lead.
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Must have basic understanding of the needs of the elderly,and must have an empathetic approach to the elderly and illness.
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Must have willingness and an aptitude for working with a variety of people.
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Effective oral and written communication skills.
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Imagination and creativity required.
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Must exhibit a spirit of cooperation.
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Must have a valid driver’s license.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
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Must have a four-year college degree from an accredited Recreation Therapy or Parks and Recreation field.
- Experience in a recreation setting, with 1-2 years of dementia/LTC experience preferred.
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Ability to work under limited supervision.
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Ability to recognize that error in judgement may jeopardize the health and safety of residents.
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Ability to recognize abnormal signs and symptoms, which signify a physical change in condition, which would require nursing interventions and notifies nursing of these observations.
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Ability to problem solve independently when circumstances warrant such actions.
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
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Must be licensed or eligible for North Carolina State Recreational Therapy Licensure (LRT) by NCBRTL and certified or eligible for National Therapeutic Recreation Certification (CTRS) by NCTRC.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative to those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of their job, a team member is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger; handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods of time, walk, climb stairs, balance and may be asked to provide support for a resident with mobility limitations. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, distance vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus. Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability in order to cope with the mental and emotional strain of the position. (Lift 25 pounds maximum)
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.While performing duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to inside and outside environmental conditions, and on occasion, could be exposed to blood, other body fluids, and residents with communicable diseases.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
The Sharon at SouthPark is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.
Taking care of our residents begins with taking care of our Employees.
Per company policy Proof of Influenza vaccine and/or approved medical/religious exemption is required for all employees.
