THERAPY ASSISTANT I - Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center - Aurora

Department Information

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Description of Job

• Receives direction from supervisor and then plans and facilitates recreational programs that are designed to meet the interests and needs of each individual resident and/or neighborhood
• Prepares the recreation calendar for the neighborhood and presents it to the supervisor for approval. Programs will be varied to meet a variety of residents' individual interests, which may include cognitive, recreation, physical groups, spiritual experience, creative endeavors. Prepares and facilitates daily groups for the neighborhood assigned
• Completes documentation of daily attendance/refusals of recreation programs for neighborhoods assigned. Documents residents’ daily independent pursuits. Documents 1 to 1 therapeutic programming visits to predetermined care plan goal/response as developed by the Clinical Therapists
• Provide 1 to 1 therapeutic programming to residents with decreased ability to interact with their environment as care planned by the Clinical Therapist, which may include hand massage, sensory stimulation, wheelchair walks, visits about the facility, utilization of the sensory cart, artistic expression, etc.
• Coordinates activity program times, content, and location with nursing services, housekeeping, and dietary staff. Organizes kitchen requests for special functions with the dietary department and linen request through laundry services. Acquires supplies needed for programs. Maintains purchasing card within state and facility guidelines and within budget for the department. Conducts outings of choice by the residents and ensures safety of the residents while outside the facility
• Attends staff meetings, in-services, and all other meetings relative to the position. Attends committee meetings as assigned. Completes Cornerstone and Relias assignments
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Experience Only:

• None

OR

• None

• CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
• Pre-employment Physical/Tests: TB Test
• Current/Valid and unrestricted US Drivers License
• May be required to travel/transport residents in state vehicles
• Shift Work: Will work evenings, holidays and/or weekends as needed. Shifts can vary based on resident programming demands of the day.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Supplemental Information

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more!

• 
  Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~