Activity Therapist - LIII

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals is looking for an Activity Therapist III to lead therapeutic recreation initiatives in New York. This role focuses on enhancing residents' lives through tailored programming and compassionate care. As a supervisor, you will mentor staff and oversee program implementation, ensuring excellence in service delivery.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s Degree and has significant experience in recreational therapy. You will make a meaningful impact on our residents through creative leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution.
• Three years of experience in planning and supervising recreation programs.
• Experience in health-care setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments for residents and design individualized treatment plans.
• Plan and implement therapeutic programs and community events.
• Supervise and mentor entry-level therapists and interns.

Skills

Clinical assessments

Program design

Leadership

Supervision

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in recreation, physical education, or related fields

Job description

Duties & Responsibilities

Position Overview

The Activity Therapist III serves as a vital clinical and creative leader within the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) department. This role is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our residents through evidence-based clinical assessments, individualized care planning, and the implementation of vibrant, age‑appropriate programming. As a mentor and supervisor, the Activity Therapist II ensures that the spirit of Clinical Excellence and Compassionate Care is woven into every resident interaction.

Essential Functions (in order of importance to role and time spent)

• Clinical Excellence & Assessment – 40%
• Program Design & Implementation – 20%
• Leadership & Supervision – 10%
• Operations & Administration – 10%

Clinical Excellence & Assessment

• Conduct initial assessments and MDS 3.0 evaluations for residents upon admission, significant change and annually, ensuring all documentation aligns with facility policy and regulatory timelines.
• Design individualized treatment plans and quarterly progress notes based on resident history, cultural background, and physical or cognitive limitations.
• Maintain precise clinical charts and documentation standards, ensuring all data accurately reflects the resident’s therapeutic progress.
• Represent Therapeutic Recreation services in interdisciplinary care plan meetings and patient committees to ensure holistic resident care.

Program Design & Implementation

• Plan and execute age‑appropriate therapeutic programs that reflect residents’ leisure histories, preferences, and current abilities.
• Coordinate community trips and large‑scale special events, including unit celebrations, seasonal festivities, and holiday programming.
• Oversee the aesthetics of unit environments, including the maintenance of monthly calendars, bulletin boards, and seasonal decorations.
• Implement the use of iPads, laptops, and other assistive technologies during one‑on‑one sessions and group activities to enhance resident engagement.

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise and mentor Activity Therapists (Levels I & II), Rehabilitation Technicians, and Community Liaisons to ensure high‑quality service delivery; may function as a weekend supervisor when needed.
• Act as a primary supervisor for college interns and volunteers, providing necessary guidance for those pursuing professional credentials.
• Serve as a departmental lead during TR Week, educational seminars, or when interfacing with outside organizations.

Operations & Administration

• Manage procurement and maintenance of program supplies and equipment, ensuring all materials are safe and age‑appropriate.
• Input resident participation through ActivityPro as per department standards.
• Actively participate in performance improvement activities and safety management protocols, including pain management and infection control.
• Adhere to departmental endorsement policies regarding medical conditions and maintain daily professional correspondence via facility email.

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 three (3) years 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 four (4) 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

• Relevance of personal or professional experience supporting resident needs as described above.