Recreational Therapist

At Denali Family Services we serve children who require intensive behavioral health care services and support for their families. Denali Family Services offers individual, family and group psychotherapy services in combination with intensive care coordination and individualized support across many settings.

Denali Family Services offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision), 403(B) retirement plan with an employer match, employer paid Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, generous leave accrual, paid volunteer leave, bereavement leave, pet bereavement leave, longevity awards, education assistance, EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and more!

This Intensive School and Community Based Services (ISCBS) Recreation Specialist position is responsible for providing therapeutic recreational interventions to severely emotionally disturbed (SED) consumers in individual and group settings. The ISCBS Recreation Specialist will work cooperatively within an interdisciplinary treatment team including the School Based Director, Clinicians, and Case Managers in the application of clinical treatment plans by the team members.

These positions are responsible for observing policies, procedures and safeguards to protect the privacy of health information in compliance with the HIPAA Privacy (Privacy Rule).

 Essential Functions:

• Utilize the therapeutic recreation process which includes assessment, planning, implementing, evaluation, and documentation of recreation based therapeutic interventions.
• Support the development of evidence-based practices.
• Select, conduct, and analyze client assessments.
• Plan, implement and evaluate interventions and/or programs in accordance with company mission and client goals, selecting adaptations or modifications as needed.
• Document client participation and behavioral observations as it relates to client’s individual treatment plan goals and in a timely manner.
• Transports, via private or agency vehicle, clients to/from home, school, the agency, and community settings as it is part of their treatment program
• Actively works towards developing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with clients and their families.
• Actively seeks clinical and administrative direction.
• Attends and participates in meetings and on committees as assigned.
• Active in onboarding and training new department staff and interns assigned to ISCBS or DFS as a whole.
• Perform other duties as needed and as assigned by designated supervisor.

Measurement:

• The Intensive School and Community Based Services team is implementing the client’s treatment plan through established goals. Adequate performance is determined by timely and quality client notes, billable time spent with clients, and client performance.
• Complete all agency training requirements.
• Performance on essential functions as listed above.

Position Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:  A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in therapeutic recreation, social work, human services, psychology, or a closely related field. Current national registration as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrates proficiency with the APIED process.
• Demonstrates complete familiarity with a client’s service plans and targeted goals.
• Ability to maintain positive professional working relationships and to work effectively within a team environment.
• Must have good written communication skills, including the ability to accurately document events, and provide detailed records for clients.
• Organized, efficient, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including the ability to lead.
• Ability to ensure client and employee confidentiality as prescribed by agency policy and federal law.
• Familiarity with Medicaid billing regulations.
• Proficient with basic operations in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Ability to write quality and timely notes.
• Knowledge, understanding, and implementation of all agency protocol, policy, procedure, plans program requirements.
• Ability to act decisively and with fairness.
• Ability to read, speak and write in English
• Ability to pass a State and FBI background check in accordance with the State of Alaska Background Checking Unit.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform sedentary work as well as to be engaged in physical exercise with consumers such as running, walking, hiking, etc.. Must be able to lift 40 lbs and bend down frequently. Visual acuity necessary to utilize a computer monitor throughout the course of a normal workday. Ability to perform repetitive keyboarding activities and operate general office equipment. Ability to communicate verbally, both in person and over the telephone. Ability to wrap arms around and hold a person. Ability to twist and bend frequently.  Must have visual and hearing acuity.

Working Conditions:  Work is performed at the Denali Family Services offices in Anchorage and Wasilla, in schools, in homes and in the community.

Other Requirements:  Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid certification, continual proof of a valid Alaska Driver’s License, maintain current personal vehicle insurance and registration on personal vehicle(s) used for company business, maintain a violation free driving record for the past year, and maintain satisfactory criminal background record. Must be at least 21 years of age due to state licensing requirements.