Recreation Therapist

Upstate Services Group; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Syracuse, New York seeks a compassionate Recreation Therapist to promote residents’ physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and psychosocial well-being through meaningful therapeutic recreation programs.

You will assess residents, develop goals, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to implement individualized interventions, including dementia and rehab-focused activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or related field.
• CTRS certification preferred.
• Experience with geriatric populations and long-term care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive therapeutic recreation assessments at admission and as required by facility policy.
• Identify residents' interests, strengths, abilities, limitations, and psychosocial needs.
• Develop individualized therapeutic recreation goals and interventions as part of the interdisciplinary care plan.
• Participate in resident care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Update assessments and care plans based on resident progress, changes in condition, or regulatory requirements.
• Design and facilitate therapeutic recreation programs that support residents' physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Provide individual and group interventions tailored to resident needs and abilities.
• Implement specialized programming for residents with dementia, behavioral health diagnoses, and rehabilitation goals.
• Coordinate leisure education, adaptive recreation, sensory stimulation, and wellness activities.

Skills

Resident-Centered Care

Therapeutic Recreation Planning

Assessment & Documentation

Dementia Care Programming

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation

Job description

Recreation Therapist

Job Summary:

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Recreation Therapist to join our team at Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Syracuse, New York. As a Recreation Therapist, you will play a vital role in promoting the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and psychosocial well-being of our residents through engaging and meaningful therapeutic recreation programs. If you are passionate about making a difference in people's lives and are looking for a rewarding career in healthcare, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive therapeutic recreation assessments upon admission and as required by facility policy.
• Identify residents' interests, strengths, abilities, limitations, and psychosocial needs.
• Develop individualized therapeutic recreation goals and interventions as part of the interdisciplinary care plan.
• Participate in resident care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Update assessments and care plans based on resident progress, changes in condition, or regulatory requirements.
• Design and facilitate therapeutic recreation programs that support residents' physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Provide individual and group interventions tailored to resident needs and abilities.
• Implement specialized programming for residents with dementia, behavioral health diagnoses, and rehabilitation goals.
• Coordinate leisure education, adaptive recreation, sensory stimulation, and wellness activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreation Therapy, Recreational Therapy, or a related field required.
• Certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) preferred.
• Minimum of one year of experience in therapeutic recreation, healthcare, rehabilitation, senior living, or long-term care preferred.
• Experience working with geriatric populations, dementia care, and skilled nursing residents preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the facility.
• Ability to assist with activity setup and transportation of supplies and equipment.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to participate actively in recreation and therapeutic programming.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Resident participation and engagement rates.
• Resident satisfaction and quality-of-life outcomes.
• Completion and accuracy of assessments and care plans.
• Compliance with regulatory standards.
• Successful implementation of individualized therapeutic interventions.
• Positive survey and quality assurance outcomes

Core Competencies:

• Resident-Centered Care
• Therapeutic Recreation Planning
• Assessment & Documentation
• Dementia Care Programming
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Communication & Relationship Building
• Creativity & Program Development
• Quality Improvement
• Regulatory Compliance

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in resident care areas, activity spaces, outdoor environments, and community settings.
• May require occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays to support resident programming and special events.

Mission:

To enhance each resident's quality of life by providing meaningful therapeutic recreation opportunities that promote wellness, independence, dignity, engagement, and overall well-being within a compassionate long-term care environment.