Recreation Therapist,Dog Handl

Phoenix Children's; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Children's is seeking a Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler to integrate animal-assisted therapy into pediatric care. The CTRS will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, maintain the hospital’s facility dog’s safety and wellbeing, and design individualized treatment plans around the dog-driven interventions.

The role emphasizes assessment, supervision of volunteers, and coordination with clinical teams to support patients’ emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being within

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a closely related field.
• Pediatric experience in health care.
• Current certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
• Current AZ DPS fingerprint clearance card, prior to start date.
• Current BLS Certification for Healthcare Provider, prior to start date.
• Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification (C-AAIS)

Responsibilities

• Facility Dog Handling & Animal Assisted Intervention: serve as primary handler of hospital-owned facility dog and ensure safety and care.
• Partner with treating clinical team to design and deliver animal-assisted interventions aligned with treatment goals.
• Assess dog and patient for signs of stress, fatigue, or discomfort and adjust interventions accordingly.
• Maintain safety for dog, patients, families, and staff during all interventions.
• Coordinate supply orders, veterinary care, and grooming services per guidelines.
• Represent the facility dog program in orientation, marketing, and community engagement.
• Train, orient, and supervise AAT volunteer handlers as assigned by AAT Supervisor.
• Recreational Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning: evaluate patients’ functioning and develop plans integrating the dog into activities.
• Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families; monitor progress and adjust plans.
• Document assessment and intervention outcomes per standards and report incidents.

Skills

Animal-assisted interventions

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient-centered care

Crisis response

Education

Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy

Tools

CTRS certification

AZ DPS fingerprint clearance

BLS Certification

C-AAIS Certification

Job description

Recreation Therapist,Dog Handl

Department: RSRCH-GRNT | Pet Therapy Program
Location: Phoenix
Shift: Mon-Fri, Days, 8am-5pm
Category: Behavioral Health
Posting #: 1054835
Employee Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Recreation Therapist – Dog Handler is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) who partners with a trained facility dog and the interdisciplinary clinical team to incorporate animal-assisted intervention into patients’ plans of care to meet clinical goals. This position plans, coordinates, and facilitates therapeutic recreation services and activity-based interventions designed to support the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being of pediatric patients and their families in the hospital setting.

Position Duties

• Facility Dog Handling & Animal Assisted Intervention


• Serves as the primary handler of a hospital-owned facility dog, maintaining safety, care, health, grooming, and behavior of the dog in accordance with hospital and department policies.


• Partners with the treating clinical team in the assigned setting (e.g., Providers; nursing; rehab therapists; psychology; social work; child life) to design and deliver animal-assisted interventions that support each patient's established treatment goals.


• Assesses both the facility dog and the patient throughout each interaction for signs of stress, fatigue, or discomfort, and adjusts or discontinues the intervention as needed to protect the safety and wellbeing of both.


• Maintains the safety of the facility dog, patients, families, and staff during all interventions, including in high-stimulation inpatient/bedside and outpatient clinic environments.


• Coordinates supply orders, veterinary care, and grooming services in accordance with hospital/department guidelines and policies.


• Represents the facility dog program in new employee orientation, hospital marketing, media, and community engagement activities as assigned.


• Trains, orients, and supervises Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) volunteer handlers as assigned by AAT Supervisor.

• Recreational Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning


• Applies recreational therapy assessment methods to evaluate patients' physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and leisure functioning as it relates to animal-assisted intervention goals.


• Develops individualized and group treatment plans that integrate the facility dog into therapeutic recreation activities designed to complement the goals set by the patients’ treating clinical teams.


• Establishes and maintains a therapeutic rapport with patients and families to support engagement in animal-assisted treatment activities.


• Continually evaluates and adjusts intervention plans based on patient progress and response.


• Responds to crisis or acute situations calmly and effectively to maintain ongoing safety of patients, the facility dog, and others.


• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and communicates relevant observations to support coordinated patient care.


• Documents assessment and intervention outcomes in accordance with hospital documentation standards.


• Documents unusual occurrences, incidents, or safety concerns involving the facility dog or patients in the appropriate reporting format.

• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.

Phoenix Children's Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Vision

Phoenix Children's will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties


• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies


• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders


• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

Values

• We place children and families at the center of all we do


• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way


• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact


• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future


• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable

Position Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Pediatric experience in health care.

Additional Requirements

• Current certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.


• Current AZ DPS fingerprint clearance card, prior to start date.


• Current BLS Certification for Healthcare Provider from the American Heart Association, prior to start date.


• Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification (C-AAIS)

Certification / License / Registry Requirements for the Position

• Cert Thera Rec Specialist - Required


• Basic Life Support - Required


• Fingerprint Clearance Card - Required

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure / Risk Potential

• Physical Requirement - Climbing - Frequently


• Physical Requirement - Feeling (sensing textures and temperatures) - Frequently


• Physical Requirement - Fine Motor Skills (pinching, gripping, etc) - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Hearing - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Pushing/pulling - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Reaching - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Sitting - Frequently


• Physical Requirement - Standing - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Talking - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Tasting/smelling - Occasionally


• Physical Requirement - Walking - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Near Vision - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Far Vision - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Color Discrimination - Frequently


• Physical Requirement - Use of keyboard, mouse and/or computer equipment - Frequently


• Physical Requirement - Lift up to 35 pounds without assistance - Constantly


• Physical Requirement - Lift more than 35 pounds without assistance - Occasionally


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Inside office environment - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Outdoor weather conditions - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Extreme temperatures - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Confined areas - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Airborne communicable diseases - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Fumes or airborne particles - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Hazardous materials exposure - Applicable


• Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Toxic or caustic chemicals - Applicable