Pediatric Recreation Therapist & Facility Dog Handler

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc. in Phoenix seeks a Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler (CTRS) to partner with a hospital facility dog and a multidisciplinary team to integrate animal-assisted interventions into pediatric care.

You will assess patients, plan and implement activity-based therapies, supervise volunteers, and ensure safety for patients and staff while documenting outcomes per hospital standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy or related field required.
• Current CTRS certification required.
• Pediatric health-care experience preferred.
• AZ DPS fingerprint clearance required prior to start date.
• BLS Certification for Healthcare Providers required.
• Animal handling or training experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary handler of the hospital facility dog and ensure safety.
• Design and deliver animal-assisted interventions with the clinical team.
• Assess signs of stress in dog and patient; adjust interventions accordingly.
• Develop individualized and group treatment plans integrating the dog.
• Document assessment and intervention outcomes per hospital standards.
• Train, orient, and supervise AAT volunteers; participate in team meetings.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Safety awareness

Patient engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy

CTRS certification

Job description

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Inc. in Phoenix seeks a Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler (CTRS) to partner with a hospital facility dog and a multidisciplinary team to integrate animal-assisted interventions into pediatric care.

You will assess patients, plan and implement activity-based therapies, supervise volunteers, and ensure safety for patients and staff while documenting outcomes per hospital standards.