Job Description

Certified Recreational Therapist

Nexus Children’s Hospital – Shenandoah, TX

Make an Impact Beyond Traditional Recreation

Nexus Children’s Hospital – Shenandoah is seeking a Certified Recreational Therapist (CTRS) with experience working with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental, developmental, behavioral, and complex medical needs.

This is a clinical recreational therapy role—not simply activity coordination. The Recreational Therapist is an integral member of our interdisciplinary treatment team, using evidence-based therapeutic recreation interventions to improve patients’ cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and physical functioning.

Our ideal candidate understands how to engage children and adolescents who may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), neurological conditions, behavioral challenges, communication limitations, and complex medical or rehabilitative needs.

What You'll Do

As a Certified Recreational Therapist, you will assess patients, develop individualized treatment plans, provide therapeutic interventions, and evaluate outcomes throughout the patient's stay.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct comprehensive recreational therapy assessments using observation, interviews, performance testing, record review, and input from families and the interdisciplinary team.
• Identify patient strengths and limitations related to cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, physical, and leisure functioning.
• Develop individualized recreational therapy treatment plans with measurable short- and long-term functional goals.
• Design and implement therapeutic interventions appropriate for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental and developmental disabilities.
• Adapt activities and interventions based on each patient's developmental level, communication abilities, sensory needs, behavioral presentation, and physical capabilities.
• Provide individual and group recreational therapy designed to improve functional independence, emotional regulation, social skills, coping skills, leisure participation, and quality of life.
• Evaluate patient progress and modify interventions based on clinical response, changing needs, and treatment goals.
• Collaborate closely with physicians, nursing, behavioral health, rehabilitation, therapy, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Engage families and caregivers in assessment, treatment planning, and discharge planning when appropriate.
• Document assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, therapeutic units, and discharge summaries accurately and timely.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning.
• Connect patients and families with appropriate community resources and recreational programs to support successful reintegration following discharge.
• Support activity coordination and serve as a recreational therapy resource throughout the hospital.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of the hospital's volunteer program.
• Provide guidance or clinical supervision to recreational therapy assistants, aides, interns, fieldwork students, and volunteers as appropriate.
• Participate in safety, quality improvement, risk management, and program evaluation initiatives.
• Communicate department needs, goals, challenges, and successes to the Director of Rehabilitation Services.

Who We're Looking For

We are specifically seeking candidates who have experience working with pediatric or adolescent neurodevelopmental populations.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Recreational Therapy from an accredited college or university.

Experience

• Minimum of one year of recreational therapy experience.
• Experience working with children or adolescents with neurodevelopmental or developmental disabilities is strongly preferred.
• Experience with populations including autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, neurological conditions, behavioral challenges, cognitive impairments, or complex rehabilitative needs is highly desirable.
• Experience in an inpatient hospital, pediatric rehabilitation, behavioral health, residential treatment, or similar multidisciplinary setting is a plus.

Licensure & Certification

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) required.
• Current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Nexus-approved Nonviolent Crisis Intervention/CPI/SAMA certification required or must be obtained following hire.
• Must maintain all required licenses and certifications in good standing throughout employment.
• Tuberculosis screening must be completed in accordance with facility requirements.

Why Nexus Children's Hospital – Shenandoah?

At Nexus, recreational therapy is an important part of the patient's overall clinical treatment plan. You'll work alongside an interdisciplinary team caring for children and adolescents whose needs often extend beyond what traditional behavioral health, rehabilitation, or pediatric programs can accommodate.

We're looking for a therapist who can meet patients where they are developmentally, creatively adapt interventions, and turn recreation into meaningful clinical progress.

If you are a CTRS who is passionate about helping children and adolescents with complex neurodevelopmental needs build skills, independence, confidence, and quality of life, we want to hear from you.

Apply today to join Nexus Children's Hospital – Shenandoah.