Therapeutic Recreation Aide - Per Diem

Hospital for Special Care; New Britain (CT); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, CT seeks a Therapeutic Recreation Aide to support inpatient rehabilitation by planning and delivering individual and group recreation programs to aid physical, cognitive and social functioning.

Responsibilities include assisting with treatment activities, maintaining equipment, supervising volunteers and coordinating with licensed staff. Strong English literacy, computer skills and a valid driver’s license are required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 3 years healthcare recreation experience.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to read, write and understand English.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and system management.
• Preferred: Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Required: Ability to lift and assist with patient transfers.
• Required: Valid driver's license.
• Preferred: Passenger endorsement.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under supervision of licensed/certified team members.
• Observe and report changes in patient condition to appropriate team members.
• Prioritize tasks and complete assignments with supervision as needed.

Skills

Associate degree

Healthcare recreation experience

Independent work ability

English literacy

Computer proficiency

Medical terminology knowledge

Lift and transfers

Driver's license

Passenger endorsement (preferred)

Education

Associate degree in health related field

Tools

Computer proficiency

Job description

Position Location:

Hospital for Special Care

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

0

Work Shift:

First Shift

Department:

Inpatient Rehabilitation Services

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

***(6825) THERAPEUTIC RECREATION AIDE- PD

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: Associates degree in health related field or 3 years of experience working within a healthcare setting providing recreation programming.
• Required: Ability to work independently.
• Required: Ability to read, write and understand instructions in English.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and system management.
• Preferred: Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Required: Ability to lift and assist with patient transfers.
• Required: Valid driver's license.
• Preferred: Passenger endorsement.

JOB SUMMARY

• Plans, develops and implements individual and group general recreation programs to improve the functioning of patients diagnosed with a variety of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and developmental or age related needs. The therapeutic recreation aide will perform a variety of departmental and interdepartmental tasks in order to insure the successful provision of services related to leisure, technology, health and wellness, communication and mobility.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to tolerate up to four hours of consecutive work.
• Endurance for up to one and one-half hour periods of constant sitting and one hour periods of independent mobility.
• Ability to safely assist with patient transfers or provide hands-on assistance.
• Ability to lift or carry objects up to 10 pounds continuously, to 20 pounds frequently, to 40 pounds occasionally for patient transfer.
• Ability to push/pull up to 50 pounds frequently throughout the day for patient transport and mobility activities.
• Frequent need to initiate body positional changes to access equipment from high and low areas and while providing treatment interventions.
• Functional fine and gross motor skills and upper extremity sensation needed.
• Intact vision needed for observation of patient's non-verbal responses and skin assessment.

COGNITIVE DEMANDS

• Job requires the application of previously acquired knowledge. It also requires flexibility of thought, reasoning, organizational skills and the ability to act in some new or unfamiliar situations. Selective attention and concentration are necessary to complete tasks.
• Job requires basic formulation, content, syntax and spelling to complete tasks. Only simple sentence or very short paragraph expression is necessary.
• Job requires an ability to comprehend lengthy messages or paragraphs and to follow multistage and three step commands.
• Must be able to initiate and interpret communication with patient and others.
• Ability to report patient response, reaction and behavior through written and oral communication.

WORK DEMANDS

• Job requires working primarily indoors, only occasionally needing to be outdoors. Job requires working around and with others on a continuous basis. Task fluctuation on schedule is frequent and often unpredictable due to census and patient specific needs. Work is frequently carried out in a noisy and somewhat crowded setting. There is exposure to body fluids, contagious disease and blood borne pathogens. There is occasional exposure to particles, chemicals, electromagnetic, electrical, ultrasonic, and/or thermal agents that could cause eye, nose or skin irritation - such as those utilized for casting/splinting, patient treatment, equipment fabrication or cleaning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides direct patient care under direction of' licensed/certified team members; individually, in groups, or on land.
• Observes and reports changes in patient condition to appropriate team members.
• Prioritizes tasks in order to complete assignments seeking supervisory guidance as needed.
• Completes specific assigned tasks in accordance with Hospital Policies, Procedures and Protocols. Accesses policies, procedures and guidelines as needed.
• Obtains, organizes, cleans and competently utilizes equipment and supplies for activities and treatment.
• Provides general maintenance and repair of equipment as assigned, including programming and technical assistance support.
• Orient and supervise volunteers as appropriate.
• Serve as a resource for maintenance level activities/equipment related to functional activities (leisure participation, mobility, communication, cognition).
• Provide carryover for swallowing and specialized feeding programs acting as a resource for frontline staff.
• Work with a variety of assistive technology equipment to support patient utilization acting as a resource for maintenance and troubleshooting of high and low tech devices.