(T/26-133) Recreation Therapist – Hospital (Temporary Full-Time)

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph; Guelph; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph is seeking a Recreation Therapist to assess residents’ recreation and leisure interests, develop individualized care plans, and implement therapeutic recreation programs in a hospital setting.

You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, advocate for clients, plan community outings, supervise student placements, and contribute to quality initiatives while maintaining a safe, inclusive environment for residents and families.

Qualifications

• Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies or Therapeutic Recreation preferred.
• Affiliation with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario or equivalent.
• Eligibility for full membership in a professional organization such as Therapeutic Recreation Ontario.
• Experience in Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, Long Term Care, or Community Outreach.
• Strong leadership and person-centered approach; dementia experience recommended.

Responsibilities

• Assess client recreation and leisure interests and develop individualized Recreation Therapy Care Plans.
• Plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate therapeutic recreation programs and outings.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and advocate for clients; supervise student placements.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Assessment skills

Therapeutic recreation knowledge

Education

Recreation therapy degree

Professional organization affiliation

Job description

(T/26-133) Recreation Therapist - Hospital (Temporary Full-Time)

The role of a Recreational Therapist in a hospital setting involvesassessing clients' recreation and leisure interests, developingindividualized care plans, and implementing therapeutic recreation programs.They organize community outings, maximize clients' abilities throughfacilitation techniques and adaptations, and document their work. Thetherapist collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, advocates for clients,plans and facilitates programs, maintains relationships with families andcommunity partners, and supports student placements. They contribute toquality initiatives, engage in professional development, and promote theimportance of Recreation Therapy. The therapist also manages resources,ensures a safe environment, and adheres to SJHCG policies.

Key Accountabilities

• Assess allclient recreation and leisure interests in a timely manner. Accurately analyze and interpret results todevelop an individualized Recreation Therapy Care Plan. Complete quarterly and annual reviews asrequired.
• Plan,implement, co-ordinate and evaluate therapeutic recreation individual andgroup programs, recreation based participation programs and communityoutings. Develop new programs to meetthe changing needs of our clients.
• Organizecommunity outings to meet client interests.
• Applyappropriate facilitation techniques and provide adaptations to maximize theclient’s abilities related to recreation and leisure interests. Implement supportive communicationtechniques.
• Develop andevaluate goal oriented programs and services for clients which supportclient-centered outcomes.
• Implementindividual interventions related to responsive behaviours including, but notlimited to Montessori techniques, multi-sensory interventions, and individualleisure interests.
• Document ina manner that meets specific professional, agency and governmentrequirements.
• Facilitatetherapeutic interventions that acknowledge the client needs related toindividual and cultural diversity.
• Contributeto the development and completion of monthly calendars. Provide notification of programs, servicesand special events available to residents and families through posters, dailyinformation boards, or alternate forms of communication.
• Activelyparticipate and collaborate as an interdisciplinary team member throughinvolvement in client meetings, team meetings, rounds, committee work as wellas educational and leadership opportunities.Advocate for clients and residents as part of the collaborative teamapproach.
• Plan andfacilitate evening and weekend programs as required.
• Develop andmaintain relationships with family members to provide information and supportas needed for client involvement.
• Responsiblefor effective use of resources in relation to department petty cash, programsupply purchases, maintaining receipts, advocating for neighbourhoodpurchases, Foundation and Volunteer Association partnerships. Responsible for assisting residents withpurchases related to involvement in Recreation programs and services.
• Collaboratewith Food Services related to monitoring client dietary needs, facilitatingprograms with food service, preparation, or catering.
• Responsiblefor preparation and clean-up of program work areas. Maintain a safe and clean environment forprograms and department spaces.Participate in tasks related to organization, cleanliness, andmaintenance of work areas and equipment.
• Providesupervision of student placement opportunities for students from recognizedTherapeutic Recreation Programs at the College or University level. Supervise students from alternate orrelated programs as appropriate.
• Develop andparticipate in Facility and Departmental Quality Initiatives and RiskManagement programs based on program evaluation and best practice guidelines.Complies with patient safety and organizational initiatives that contributeto resident and patient safety.
• Participatein on-going professional development, in-service training and staffdevelopment through educational opportunities, research and self-directedlearning. Research best practicerelated to service delivery and professional development.
• Promote theimportance of Recreation Therapy and provide education and leadership tostaff, volunteers and family members.
• Develop andmaintain relationships with community partners and identify recreation andleisure resources available to support client integration within thecommunity.
• Orient,train, supervise and support volunteers for involvement in Departmentprograms and services. Work incollaboration with the Volunteer Department.
• Contributeto Recreation Therapy policies, procedures and program description.
• Professionaldesignation is guided by the Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Professionalmembership, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Recreation andLeisure Studies or Therapeutic Recreation preferred. Candidates with apost-secondary diploma, degree or certificate in another related field from arecognized post secondary institution may be considered.
• Affiliation with aProfessional Organization (Therapeutic Recreation Ontario or ActivityProfessionals Ontario or equivalent).
• Eligibility for fullmembership in a professional organization such as Therapeutic RecreationOntario.
• Work and/or VolunteerExperience in Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, Long Term Care, orCommunity Outreach Programs.
• You must demonstratestrong leadership skills with an advanced knowledge of the aging process anddementia. Commitment to a multi-disciplinary team and a person-centeredapproach working with residents, patients, staff, families and volunteers isrequired.
• Education of andexperience working with people with Dementia recommended.
• Self-starter,self-directed, highly organized and proactive
• Able to prioritize tasksbased on relative importance and urgency
• Demonstrate strongindependent judgement and a high degree of interpersonal effectiveness to be able to deal with stakeholders across various levels internally andexternally.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelphis an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, anddiversity in all programs, facilities, and people. St. Joseph’s Health CentreGuelph is committed to creating a barrier-free, accessible organization, andwill work to accommodate any needs under the Accessibility for Ontario forDisabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Should any applicantrequire accommodation through the application process, please contact HumanResources at [e-mail] for assistance. If the applicant requires aspecific accommodation because of a disability during an interview, theapplicant will need to advise the hiring manager when scheduling theinterview and the appropriate accommodations can be made.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph(SJHCG) does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, evaluate, orselect applicants for this position.

Recruitment Process Integrity:

To support fairness,confidentiality, and an equitable recruitment process, applicants are kindlyasked not to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and not to record,transcribe, encrypt, or otherwise capture interviews at any stage of the recruitment process, unless explicitly authorized by the organization.

We thank all applicants for theirinterest. Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.