Recreation Specialist

Recreation Specialist

Assist in planning, organizing and directing therapeutic play and recreation programs to effect improvement in the physical, mental and social well-being of the consumers of an Intense Residential Treatment Program.

Reports To: Program Director

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• 21 years of age
• Must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in recreation therapy or a related human services field.
• 1 year of experience providing direct care to youth in a behavioral health agency or institutional setting.
• Experience in planning or implementing recreational activities for youth in residential youth care centers, group homes, youth shelters, camps or Boy/Girl Scouts is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Ability to pass a Criminal Record History Clearance and a Child Abuse History Clearance.
• Ability to physically participate in the use of therapeutic holds and to be certified biannually to demonstrate competence.
• Ability to participate in trauma informed care and intervene appropriately to de-escalate and prevent crisis situations when necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people from differing backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to be flexible in meeting scheduling needs. Ability to work on agency holidays, as required.
• Strong organization and motivation skills.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of recreational therapy.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of a therapeutic recreational program.
• Ability to maintain favorable public relations.
• Basic computer skills.

Essential Expectations:

• Has knowledge and understanding of CFG’s mission and values.
• Follow and abide by all established program and agency protocols, policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries with staff and youth.
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, team meetings and processes for communication concerning youth and the program.
• Attend and participate in all required trainings, both upon hire and annually.
• Achieve and maintain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with the team and other internal and external stakeholders. Provide help to other team members as needed.

• Participate in creating an overall positive community atmosphere with other staff and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally, in writing and on both an interpersonal and group level.
• Provide the team with thorough, timely, legible, accurate, objective information through documentation.
• Contribute to ensuring the facility is safe, clean and secure for all youth and staff.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to accept direction and supervision.
• Dress professionally and appropriately as outlined in the Dress Code Policy.
• Notify the State Central Registry (1-877-NJ ABUSE) whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that a youth has been or is being abused or neglected by staff members, youth, or any other person as required by the New Jersey Child Abuse and Neglect Law.
• Demonstrate a commitment to CFG’s initiative to eliminate restraint and seclusion.
• Possess the personal characteristics and experience to collaborate with and provide appropriate care to youth, gain their respect, guide their development, and participate in their overall treatment program.
• Ability to provide services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
• Possess the temperament to work with and care for children, youth, adults or families with special needs, as appropriate.
• Support constructive youth and family visitation and youth involvement in community activities.
• Achieve and maintain training in the Nurtured Heart Approach, a dynamic relationship-focused methodology that builds Inner Wealth™ in children, empowering them to channel their intensity in productive ways, ensuring their successful future. Staff will utilize this Approach and its 3 Stands and Recognitions on a continual basis with youth, families and their co-workers.

Specific Job Functions:

Relationships:

• Establish supportive, motivational and therapeutic relationships with youth, ensuring an atmosphere of safety, security and responsible residential care.

Supervision:

• Responsible for daily supervision and being aware of where all youth are at all times.

Daily Living:

• Supervise, observe and participate with the youth in the carrying out of daily routines (i.e. meals, school, chores, etc.).
• Serve as a role model and coach for youth regarding developing and using effective problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, independent living skills and responsibilities.
• Know current level of functioning of youth and appropriate needed interventions.
• Observe and document the youth’s behavior, physical and emotional symptoms and performs behavioral management interventions as needed.

• Responsible for reading and being familiar with all youth’s treatment plans.
• Carry out daily living and/or behavior plans for youth, developed by a multi-disciplinary team of staff.
• Assist youth with skill building activities.

Programming:

• Accountable for maintaining structure and following the daily schedule.
• Develop, plan, supervise and participate in daily recreational and social activities, including outdoor programs and physical exercise, designed to improve and promote youths’ mental and physical well-being.
• Design and establish recreational programs of a therapeutic nature suited to the physical and mental capabilities of the youth. Adapt games and activities to the youth’s needs and abilities as necessary.
• Responsible for producing a comprehensive weekly recreation schedule for the youth and staff to follow. Maintain all schedules on file to meet regulatory standards.
• Provide individualized recreation treatment for youth.
• Consistently implement all program policies and procedures including the behavioral motivational system.
• Promote and generate enthusiasm for programming.
• Consult and communicate with supervisors, directors and clinicians concerning behavior issues and the needs of the youth and the program.
• Perform light housekeeping duties to ensure a neat, clean and orderly environment.
• Transport and/or accompany individual or groups of youth to appointments or on field trips outside of the program.
• Conduct group meetings with youth to discuss program rules and procedures, address concerns and provide instructional information on appropriate behavior management and the use of daily living skills.
• Support constructive youth-family visitation and youth involvement in community activities.
• Administer medication when necessary.
• Help youth to acquire new skills and get involved in healthy, legal, and age-appropriate leisure activities.
• Meet with each youth upon admission to evaluate the youth’s recreational and leisure interests, strengths, and weaknesses, and to identify appropriate recreational activities.
• Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate recreational activities. Participate in the development of treatment plan goals to meet needs and interests of youth.
• Participates in extended clinical coverage by working one weekend day a month and one late night a week until at least 7pm.

Other:

• Familiar with all co-worker’s job functions so that appropriate internal referrals can be initiated as needed (i.e. nurse, clinician, and principal).
• Take on special tasks to contribute to the overall functioning of the program (i.e., ordering supplies, shopping, fire drills, pharmacy runs, errands, etc.).
• Aid in the training of new workers on the job.
• Drive program’s vehicles as requested.
• Purchase, track, adapt, and maintain necessary recreation supplies and equipment. Make supply needs and activity recommendations to the Program Director.
• Coordinate with the Program Director costs of activities and make requests for petty cash or credit card purchases in a timely and proactive manner.
• Prepare and submit various requested documents and report to the Program Director and treatment team members reflecting youths' behaviors and evidence of progress or regression.
• Maintain the program’s vehicles, ensuring functionality and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Establish and maintain community volunteer opportunities for the youth.

Training Requirements Specific to this Position:

• Handle with Care Bi-Annually
• All Training Academy Classes and ongoing training as developed

Other Duties:

• As assigned