Recreational Therapist

LCMC Health; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Deliver healthcare with heart.

Give people a reason to smile.

Put a little love in your work.

Be honest and real, but with compasss

Bring some lagniappe into everything

Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of

See opportunities, not problems – it’s

Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each

Love what makes you, you - because we

Job summary

LCMC Health in New Orleans, LA seeks a recreational therapist to assess, plan, and implement therapeutic recreation programs for patients with psychosocial needs within a behavioral health unit.

Requirements include a BS in rehabilitation or related field, CPI/Heart Saver certifications, and strong communication and teamwork abilities. This role involves discharge planning and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team in a hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication, conflict management, organizational and planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Completes recreational assessment, develops plans and carries out interventions for patients identified to have psychosocial risk factors. Conducts assessment of patient’s social needs through interviewing of patient and family members, conferring with interdisciplinary team, and reviewing medical record.
• Maintains clean, organized recreational therapy room conducive to a therapeutic group environment.
• Crisis intervention: Effectively provides short term supportive counseling for individuals to help patients develop healthy relationships and lifestyles. Refers patients/families to appropriate community agencies for further intervention or recreational services as needed.
• Active team member in the discharge planning process: Primary responsibility for identifying complicating social and interpersonal factors and barriers to appropriate discharge. Assures that patient is referred to appropriate social resources post discharge in order to transition patient efficiently to discharge.

Skills

Excellent communication

Conflict management

Organizational skills

Planning skills

Education

BS in rehabilitation, recreation therapy, physical education, music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, horticultural therapy or psychology

Job description

Your job is more than a job.

Why a Great Place to Work At LCMC Health

we help you to lean into your calling by leaning in with you, ensuring you have the resources to do your job as only you can. And that begins with receiving the support you need to thrive and grow, which looks different for each person. Living out our commitment to inclusion requires providing benefits that are as diverse and unique as our workforce. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. Because we don’t just serve the New Orleans community—we’re at the beating heart of it. Whether by offering community health services or making medical innovations more accessible, LCMC Health is bringing a culture of wellness to the communities that matter to you. When you know you’re making an authentic impact, you give a little extra to every day- as a person, with your team, in your community—and that’s one of the reasons why you’ll be a perfect fit at LCMC Health, where giving a little something extra is at the heart of everything we do.

GENERAL DUTIES

• Completes recreational assessment, develops plans and carries out interventions for patients identified to have psychosocial risk factors. Conducts assessment of patient’s social needs through interviewing of patient and family members, conferring with interdisciplinary team, and reviewing medical record. Evaluates coping skills, cognitive and intellectual functioning, support systems, resources, and other factors that could affect responses to illness, treatment and discharge plan. Identifies barriers and plans for intervention to overcome or lessen barriers to achieve outcome as evidenced by treatment plan. Communicates findings and plan to interdisciplinary team. Documents assessment, plan and interventions in medical record. Conducts reassessment based on patient need and plan of care. Facilitates and participates in therapeutic group therapy for patients on assigned unit.
• Maintains clean, organized recreational therapy room conducive to a therapeutic group environment. Room will be free of clutter, contraband items, and ligature risks. Will make rounds before each group to ensure room is safe for patient activities.
• Crisis intervention: Effectively provides short term supportive counseling for individuals to help patients develop healthy relationships and lifestyles. Refers patients/families to appropriate community agencies for further intervention or recreational services as needed. Facilitates interactions between staff and other agencies. Documents all pertinent information in the medical record. Communicates with the interdisciplinary team to facilitate the progression of care.
• Active team member in the discharge planning process: Primary responsibility for identifying complicating social and interpersonal factors and barriers to appropriate discharge. Assures that patient is referred to appropriate social resources post discharge in order to transition patient efficiently and achieve the desired outcome. Reviews caseload daily with Treatment team to share findings, needs, barriers and progress to discharge. Collaborates with the Treatment team to implement discharge planning activities for complex patients in order to ensure a timely discharge. Communicates and coordinates findings and care recommendations effectively and collaboratively between disciplines to achieve targeted outcomes. Documents relevant information in the medical record according to department standards. Maintains a working knowledge of available community resources.

Experience Qualifications

1 year experience in behavioral health care hospital.

Preferred

3 years recreational therapist in behavioral health care hospital.

Education Qualifications

BS in rehabilitation, recreation therapy, physical education, music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, horticultural therapy or psychology.

Licenses and Certifications

Heart Saver or Basic Life Support, Required. CPI, Required at or before Orientation.

Skills and Abilities

Excellent communication, conflict management,organizational and planning skills.

Reporting Relationships

• Does this position formally supervise employees? No

Functional Demands

• Medium: Medium physical requirements- Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Physical Demands

• Sitting - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Standing - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Walking - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Climbing (e.g., stairs or ladders) - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Lifting Floor to waist level: 20-50lbs - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Lifting Waist level and above: 10-20lbs - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Carrying objects - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Push/pull - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Twisting - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Bending - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Reaching forward - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Reaching overhead - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Squat/kneel/crawl - Occasional (0-35% of day)
• Wrist position deviation - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Pinching/fine motor activities - Frequent (36-66% of day)
• Keyboard use/repetitive motion - Frequent (36-66% of day)

Sensory Requirements

• Near Vision - Accurate 20/40
• Far Vision - Accurate 20/40
• Color Discrimination - Yes
• Depth Perception - Moderate
• Hearing - Accurate

Occupational Exposure Risk Potential

• Bloodborne pathogens - Reasonably Anticipated
• Chemical - Not Anticipated
• Airborne communicable diseases - Reasonably Anticipated
• Extreme temperatures - Not Anticipated
• Radiation - Reasonably Anticipated
• Uneven surfaces or elevations - Not Anticipated
• Extreme noise levels - Reasonably Anticipated
• Dust/particular matter - Reasonably Anticipated
• Other (List) - Not
• Anticipated

Work Shift

Days (United States of America)

LCMC Health is a community. Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little come on in attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health’s culture of everyday extraordinary

Children's Hospital, at the heart of LCMC Health’s incredible community of care, has been the go‑to hospital for expert children’s health, wellness, and one-of-a-kind care in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Learn more about Children’s Hospital’s 40+ specialties and our national ranking by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Children’s Hospital

Your extras

• Deliver healthcare with heart.
• Give people a reason to smile.
• Put a little love in your work.
• Be honest and real, but with compassion.
• Bring some lagniappe into everything you do.
• Forget one‑size‑fits‑all, think one‑of‑a‑kind care.
• See opportunities, not problems – it’s all about perspective.
• Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other.
• Love what makes you, you - because we do

You are welcome here.

LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.