Recreation Programmer

Hopes Home Inc; Regina; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Hope’s Home is seeking a Recreation Programmer to develop and supervise therapeutic recreation for children, coordinating with therapists, caregivers, and community services to promote growth and inclusion.

The role involves planning daily activities, leading floor staff, and ensuring safety and well-being across all programming. A supervisory mindset and collaborative approach are essential.

Qualifications

• Recreational Therapy Diploma or ECE III certification is an asset.
• Supervisory experience is an asset.
• Experience with recreation program planning.
• Knowledge of adaptive equipment.
• MANDT System training.
• Transfer, Lifting, and Reposition (TLR) training.
• Sign Language training.
• Back to Basics training.
• Lifeguard Certification.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate family visits to bridge and maintain relationships between child and family.
• Create, update and audit personal care logs.
• Collaborate with leadership to plan a menu approved by a licensed dietitian.
• Create and update a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) as needed.
• Contact and referrals to therapeutic professionals.
• Schedule and attend therapeutic appointments.
• Log all therapeutic appointments and communicate outcomes to staff.
• Adapt programming to include occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy.
• Source recreation activities for each child and arrange participation.
• Plan and implement daily experiences/programming and post activities monthly.
• Attend regular team meetings and orient new staff.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Leadership

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Recreational Therapy Diploma or Early Childhood Education III Certification

Job description

The Recreation Programmer (Rec Programmer) plays a significant role in supporting the growth and development of each child at Hope’s Home. Working closely with other Rec Programmers, the Hope’s Home team, outside agencies, and community services, the Rec Programmer provides community and in-house programming, advocates for inclusion within the community, connects children to their culture and creates an environment that promotes learning, individuality, and development. This position reports to the Supportive Living Manager.

Responsibilities

Operational Duties

• Communicate with and arrange family visits to bridge and maintain a relationship between the child and their family.
• Create, update and audit personal care logs.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to create a menu that is approved by a licensed dietitian.
• Create and update a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) (as needed).
• Contact and make referrals to therapeutic professionals.
• Provide input into determining which therapies would benefit the child.
• Schedule and attend all therapeutic appointments (e.g. CNIB, Speech and Language, Teachers)
• Log all therapeutic appointments and communicate outcomes to staff.
• Maintain and update all adaptive equipment; arrange for maintenance as required.
• Manage therapeutic equipment inventory.
• Plan, instruct, and implement daily experiences/programming, post activities at the beginning of each month.
• Adapt program activities to include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech therapy programming among other therapies.
• Determine each child’s cultural, recreational, and personal needs and manage the associated budgets to ensure spending remains within established budgets.
• Source recreation activities for each child (e.g., swimming, cultural dance) and arrange for participation.
• Create each child’s environment to promote the development of their physical, emotional, social, communicative, cognitive, and creative skills, while preserving their safety, health and well-being.
• Conduct weekly inventory of each child’s personal care supplies and purchase all clothing and personal items for each child.
• Arrange for or transport children to various places.
• Complete each child’s quarterly assessment for discussion with MSS and participate in the meeting with child’s Social Worker.
• Document the child’s developmental goals, set by their healthcare team, and review progress with the floor staff.
• Complete forms and assessments as requested by each child’s supporting professionals.
• Act as liaison between the healthcare professionals and the staff working with the child.
• Collaborate with children’s support team (Rehabilitation Centers, nurses, teacher etc.) to develop program and activities to help meet their personal development goals.
• Document communication with and visits by the child’s family for MSS.
• Communicate daily with daycare and schools, through various apps.
• Plan and execute special events (e.g., Christmas, Birthdays, Easter)
• Acts as a backup to the Developmental Worker (DW)and One to One Behavioral Support positions.
• Assist on the floor (e.g., lifting a child) and provide personal care as required.
• Attend regular team meetings with the leadership team and floor staff.
• Participate in orienting new staff as directed by the manager.
• Closely collaborate with the other Recreation Programmer in the location to ensure consistency in programming, to understand daily challenges and to determine most effective solutions.
• Participate as a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
• Participate in on-going professional development and training.
• Purchase groceries and prepare meals.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct and communicate daily, to the floor staff, the planned activities and other daily requirements of the children.
• Train, provide daily support to, and monitor the work of the Developmental Workers
• Coach floor staff regarding challenges in the work environment, including concerns with other floor staff.
• Teach all floor staff (including Nurses) how to properly use each child’s adaptive equipment and therapies.
• Teach staff how to safely secure children in accessible vehicles.
• Teach and support all floor staff (including Nurses) in implementing behavioral support plans.

Occupational Health and Safety

• Create a psychologically safe work environment (resolve conflicts in respectful ways and ensure a fair resolution, provide an environment where employees feel safe and supported to share ideas, listen, learn from, and seek to understand the ideas of others).
• Complete all required OHS training.
• Monitor, report and resolve any safety hazards in the work environment.

Qualifications

• Recreational Therapy Diploma or Early Childhood Education III Certification an asset.
• The following experience and knowledge are assets:
  • Supervisory experience
  • Kinesiology background or experience with therapiesExperience working with children with complex medical and developmental needs.
  • Experience with recreation program planning
  • Knowledge of adaptive equipment
  • MANDT System training
  • Transfer, Lifting, and Reposition (TLR) training.
  • Sign Language training
  • Back to Basics training
  • Lifeguard Certification
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated leadership
• Ability to work with children of all ages and abilities
• Able to work independently and as a team player
• Strong collaborator and communicator (both verbal and written) with staff, caregivers and outside agencies
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to observe and accurately assess children, the environment and daily program effectiveness.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes in the work environment.

Working Conditions

• Must be able to work 40 hours per week; 10- or 12-hour shifts; may include weekends.
• Set shift but start and end times vary.
• Flex time may be available.
• Physically able to safely work with objects or persons of varying sizes:
  • Handling ~100 lbs occasionally
  • ~50 lbs regularly; and
  • ~25 lbs continuously.
• Physical position changes consistently throughout the day (sitting, standing, kneeling etc).
• Exposure to:
  • cleaning chemicals and products
  • Blood and body fluids
• Work with adaptive equipment and technologies.
• Work outdoors with the children in all types of weather conditions.