Recreation Therapist,Dog Handl

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

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

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

Experience

• 1. Pediatric experience in health care. Preferred
• 2. Animal handling or training experience. Preferred

Additional Requirements

• 1. Current certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Required
• 2. Current AZ DPS fingerprint clearance card, prior to start date. Required
• 3. Current BLS Certification for Healthcare Provider from the American Heart Association, prior to start date. Required
• 4. Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist Certification (C-AAIS). Preferred

Physical Requirements & Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential

• 1. Physical Requirement - Climbing - Frequently
• 2. Physical Requirement - Feeling (sensing textures and temperatures) - Frequently
• 3. Physical Requirement - Fine Motor Skills (pinching, gripping, etc) - Constantly
• 4. Physical Requirement - Hearing - Constantly
• 5. Physical Requirement - Pushing/pulling - Constantly
• 6. Physical Requirement - Reaching - Constantly
• 7. Physical Requirement - Sitting - Frequently
• 8. Physical Requirement - Standing - Constantly
• 9. Physical Requirement - Stooping/crouching/kneeling/crawling - Constantly
• 10. Physical Requirement - Talking - Constantly
• 11. Physical Requirement - Tasting/smelling - Occasionally
• 12. Physical Requirement - Walking - Constantly
• 13. Physical Requirement - Near Vision - Constantly
• 14. Physical Requirement - Far Vision - Constantly
• 15. Physical Requirement - Color Discrimination - Frequently
• 16. Physical Requirement - Use of keyboard, mouse and/or computer equipment - Frequently
• 17. Physical Requirement - Lift up to 35 pounds without assistance - Constantly
• 18. Physical Requirement - Lift more than 35 pounds without assistance - Occasionally
• 19. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Inside office environment - Applicable
• 20. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Outdoor weather conditions - Applicable
• 21. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Extreme temperatures - Applicable
• 22. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Confined areas - Applicable
• 23. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Airborne communicable diseases - Applicable
• 24. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Bloodborne pathogens or bodily fluid - Applicable
• 25. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Fumes or airborne particles - Applicable
• 26. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Hazardous materials exposure - Applicable
• 27. Occupational Exposure/Risk Potential - Toxic or caustic chemicals - Applicable