Job Description

About Shepherd Center

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain.An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You willenjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, andfun activitiesthat have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years

Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative has provided evidence-based rehabilitation for military veterans, service members, and first responders who are ready to accept help and healing for their daily struggle with traumatic brain injuries and mental health concerns
The Recreation Therapist is responsible for treating each patient (adolescent, adult, geriatric) assigned, determining short-term and long-term goals in conjunction with the patient and other Shepherd Center team members, and developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment program to meet these goals with moderate direct supervision. This hands-on and rewarding role gives the Recreation Therapist the opportunity to interact directly with patients, making an impact on their recovery through the rehabilitation continuum to their home community environment. This position is staffed within the full Recreation Therapy Program continuum on an as needed basis.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Recreation Therapist is to plan, direct, and coordinate recreation leisure-based treatments to patients. A Recreation Therapist will plan and implement programming of events to meet the needs of patients and appropriate community members with disabilities. Job Functions:

• Schedules patients for individual specialist meetings, classes, outings, and in-center activities on a weekly basis.
• Schedule and implement individual patient meetings on leisure education and skills are completed on a weekly basis, or more often if appropriate.
• Determines equipment needs in consultation with patient support system and other appropriate team members. Uses evaluation findings to determine appropriate discharge planning needs.
• Develops and implements treatment program to further patient's functional skills, which is then periodically reassessed and adapted.
• Provides patient and/or family with resources for use after discharge.
• Facilitates community reintegration outings in accordance with policies and procedures for 1:1, group and/or team outings.
• Prepares for and effectively teaches classes and lectures, conveying appropriate information and facilitating participant involvement to patients, family, and caregivers.
• Participates in and modifies individual family training according to the needs of patient/family.
• Plan, implement, and recap inhouse and community programming throughout the year.
• Recognizes and discusses “age” developmental differences between adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, communicates effectively with all patients, and relates this to all aspects of treatment.
• Assigns duties to supportive personnel (students, volunteers, aides, techs, nursing, therapists) and supervises performance.
• May float to inpatient, post-acute, or outpatient programs to provide patient evaluation or treatment sessions as needed.
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies and procedures related to area of responsibility. Identifies potential risk areas within area of responsibility and supports problem resolution process.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited program in Therapeutic Recreation.

REQUIRED MINIMUM CERTIFICATION

• Certification by NCTRC as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. (CTRS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) within 90 days of start date.

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• Two years of experience within the field of Recreation Therapy.

REQUIRED MINIMUM SKILLS

• Two years of experience within the field of Recreation Therapy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Current Georgia driver's license and insurable by Shepherd Center's auto insurance policy preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Use body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients.
• Involves some latitude for judgement with regards to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.

WORKING CONDITION

• Normal patient care environment. Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids. Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.