Activity Therapist - Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, part of NYC Health + Hospitals, seeks an Activity Therapist to plan and oversee recreational therapy programs for patients in medical and psychiatric settings. The role involves coordinating with care teams, leading group activities, and mentoring students and volunteers.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree with therapy credits, plus experience in recreation activities within healthcare, and strong documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with required recreation, psychology and related credits.
• 1 year of full-time recreation activities planning/supervising in a health care setting; or 2 years total as described.
• Equivalent combination acceptable; must include Bachelor’s Degree.

Responsibilities

• Assess and plan recreational therapy needs and implement programs accordingly.
• Coordinate activities with treatment staff to support patient care.
• Develop individualized schedules including ADLs, arts, therapy and socialization.
• Lead group activities and therapy sessions; mentor students and volunteers.
• Attend department meetings and contribute to program improvements.
• Maintain records, prepare reports, and manage supplies and equipment.

Skills

Therapeutic Recreation

Group facilitation

Teaching/mentoring

Clinical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree with required recreation/therapy credits

Bachelor’s Degree with two years recreation therapy experience

Equivalent combination of education/training/experience

Job description

Marketing Statement

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center is one of New York City’s premier acute care hospitals. Located in Downtown Bronx, Lincoln is a teaching hospital renowned for its Centers of Excellence, and a recognized industry leader in the implementation of state-of-the-art medical technology and best practices. Our team of highly trained and caring medical professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care that is safe, compassionate, culturally competent and patient-centered. Comprehensive services are offered in three major primary care areas: Medicine, Pediatrics, and Women’s Health in addition to more than eighty (80) specialty services. At Lincoln, the safety and comfort of our patients is our number one priority.

Marketing Statement

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center is one of New York City’s premier acute care hospitals. Located in Downtown Bronx, Lincoln is a teaching hospital renowned for its Centers of Excellence, and a recognized industry leader in the implementation of state-of-the-art medical technology and best practices. Our team of highly trained and caring medical professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care that is safe, compassionate, culturally competent and patient-centered. Comprehensive services are offered in three major primary care areas: Medicine, Pediatrics, and Women’s Health in addition to more than eighty (80) specialty services. At Lincoln, the safety and comfort of our patients is our number one priority.

Mission

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of Position

This class of positions encompasses professional and/or supervisory work of varying degrees of difficulty and responsibility in the operation of an activity therapy department providing medical/psychiatric recreational therapeutic services, in conjunction with other members of the treatment team. All personnel perform related work. Under supervision, with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment, performs responsible therapeutic work of more than ordinary difficulty.

Examples Of Typical Tasks

• Participates in planning and implementing a medical/psychiatric approved recreational program of individual and ward activities adapted to the needs, interest and capacities of patients.
• Participates in meeting with treatment staff to coordinate effective patient care and participates as a member of a team, in patient groups.
• Plans individualized schedules including activities of daily living, arts and therapy and socialization to meet specific needs of patients.
• Teaches and leads recreational activities such as group and team games, arts and crafts, dances, gymnastics, art in therapy, poetry, simple forms of music and dramatics.
• Directs learning experiences as part of care/treatment of patients to influence behavioral changes leading to increased experience and comprehension of self and environment.
• Works with and may guide students from multi disciplines, volunteers and others assigned to the area of service.
• Attends and contributes to department meetings, attends and conducts in-service training programs.
• Works with private and public organizations to further recreational programs.
• May co-lead or lead small group therapy and other discussion groups.
• May co-lead community meetings with other members of various disciplines.
• Communicates observations of patients in activity therapy to team.
• Charts Activity Therapy Progress Notes.
• Prepares periodic reports and keeps appropriate records.
• Is responsible for maintaining and ordering of supplies and equipment for assigned unit.

Responsibilities

• Assesses recreational therapeutic and activity program needs and plans for implementation through research and evaluation.
• Evaluates daily functioning of activity therapy programs in assigned area.
• Assesses specific activity needs of patients and records progress of patients as defined by the standards of the department.
• Coordinates such activities as adapted sports, dramatic, social activities, arts and crafts, music, regulating content of program in accordance with patients capabilities, needs and interest for assigned unit.
• Applies new techniques and skills both interpersonal and technical in a continuing effort to provide practical programs. Explores new developments within the field of Activity Therapy implementing those which are applicable to their setting.
• Works with other disciplines to coordinate effective patient care.
• May review clinical case records for accuracy and completeness.
• Maintains functional operational level of equipment, supplies and work areas.
• May develop and conduct in-service training within their area of expertise.
• Prepares and submits reports and statistics.
• Prepares appropriate records.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by eighteen (18) credits in recreation, physical education, dance, fine arts, and/or applied arts (including therapy), and twelve (12) semester credits in psychology, social psychology, group work, group dynamics, and/or related discipline, and one (1) year of full-time experience in planning, coordinating and supervising a recreation activities program in a health care setting; or
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, and two (2) years of full-time experience described in 1 above; or
• A satisfactory combination of education, training and/or experience equivalent to 1 or 2 above. However, all candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree.

Department Preferences

• Experience in the field of Therapeutic Recreation preferred
• Experience running groups
• teaching background preferred
• willingness to be mentored and groomed in multiple modalities
• Experience reviewing medical records, conducting clinical interviews, and administering standardized assessment tools to determine a patient's baseline physical, cognitive, and emotional capabilities.
• Experience writing treatment plans and progress notes in a mental health and/or substance abuse setting