Recreation Specialist

Recreation Specialist

Population: Adolescents Location: 1000 Atlantic Avenue Camden NJ (Virtua Facility) Salary: $50,000-$55,000 annually PLUS full benefits Tuesday - Saturday (Sunday & Monday days off) MUST have a bachelor's degree. MUST have a valid driver's license. One year of experience providing direct care to youth in a behavioral health agency or institutional setting. Experience in planning or implementing recreational activities for youth.

Assist in planning, organizing and directing therapeutic play and recreation programs to effect improvement in the physical, mental and social well-being of the consumers of an Intense Residential Treatment Program. Reports To: Program Director

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• 21 years of age
• Must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in recreation therapy or a related human services field.
• 1 year of experience providing direct care to youth in a behavioral health agency or institutional setting.
• Experience in planning or implementing recreational activities for youth in residential youth care centers, group homes, youth shelters, camps or Boy/Girl Scouts is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Ability to pass a Criminal Record History Clearance and a Child Abuse History Clearance.
• Ability to physically participate in the use of therapeutic holds and to be certified biannually to demonstrate competence.
• Ability to participate in trauma informed care and intervene appropriately to de-escalate and prevent crisis situations when necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people from differing backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to be flexible in meeting scheduling needs. Ability to work on agency holidays, as required.
• Strong organization and motivation skills.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of recreational therapy.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of a therapeutic recreational program.
• Ability to maintain favorable public relations.
• Basic computer skills.

Essential Expectations:

• Has knowledge and understanding of CFG's mission and values.
• Follow and abide by all established program and agency protocols, policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries with staff and youth.
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, team meetings and processes for communication concerning youth and the program.
• Attend and participate in all required trainings, both upon hire and annually.
• Achieve and maintain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with the team and other internal and external stakeholders. Provide help to other team members as needed.

• Participate in creating an overall positive community atmosphere with other staff and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally, in writing and on both an interpersonal and group level.
• Provide the team with thorough, timely, legible, accurate, objective information through documentation.
• Contribute to ensuring the facility is safe, clean and secure for all youth and staff.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to accept direction and supervision.
• Dress professionally and appropriately as outlined in the Dress Code Policy.
• Notify the State Central Registry (1-877-NJ ABUSE) whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that a youth has been or is being abused or neglected by staff members, youth, or any other person as required by the New Jersey Child Abuse and Neglect Law.
• Demonstrate a commitment to CFG's initiative to eliminate restraint and seclusion.
• Possess the personal characteristics and experience to collaborate with and provide appropriate care to youth, gain their respect, guide their development, and participate in their overall treatment program.
• Ability to provide services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
• Possess the temperament to work with and care for children, youth, adults or families with special needs, as appropriate.
• Support constructive youth and family visitation and youth involvement in community activities.
• Achieve and maintain training in the Nurtured Heart Approach, a dynamic relationship-focused methodology that builds Inner Wealth in children, empowering them to channel their intensity in productive ways, ensuring their successful future. Staff will utilize this Approach and its 3 Stands and Recognitions on a continual basis with youth, families and their co-workers.

Specific Job Functions:

Relationships:

• Establish supportive, motivational and therapeutic relationships with youth, ensuring an atmosphere of safety, security and responsible residential care.

Supervision:

• Responsible for daily supervision and being aware of where all youth are at all times.

Daily Living:

• Supervise, observe and participate with the youth in the carrying out of daily routines (i.e. meals, school, chores, etc.).
• Serve as a role model and coach for youth regarding developing and using effective problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, independent living skills and responsibilities.
• Know current level of functioning of youth and appropriate needed interventions.
• Observe and document the youth's behavior, physical and emotional symptoms and performs behavioral management interventions as needed.

Programming:

• Accountable for maintaining structure and following the daily schedule.
• Develop, plan, supervise and participate in daily recreational and social activities, including outdoor programs and physical exercise, designed to improve and promote youths' mental and physical well-being.
• Design and establish recreational programs of a therapeutic nature suited to the physical and mental capabilities of the youth. Adapt games and activities to the youth's needs and abilities as necessary.
• Responsible for producing a comprehensive weekly recreation schedule for the youth and staff to follow. Maintain all schedules on file to meet regulatory standards.
• Provide individualized recreation treatment for youth.
• Consistently implement all program policies and procedures including the behavioral motivational system.
• Promote and generate enthusiasm for programming.
• Consult and communicate with supervisors, directors and clinicians concerning behavior issues and the needs of the youth and the program.
• Perform light housekeeping duties to ensure a neat, clean and orderly environment.
• Transport and/or accompany individual or groups of youth to appointments or on field trips outside of the program.
• Conduct group meetings with youth to discuss program rules and procedures, address concerns and provide instructional information on appropriate behavior management and the use of daily living skills.
• Support constructive youth-family visitation and youth involvement in community activities.
• Administer medication when necessary.
• Help youth to acquire new skills and get involved in healthy, legal, and age-appropriate leisure activities.
• Meet with each youth upon admission to evaluate the youth's recreational and leisure interests, strengths, and weaknesses, and to identify appropriate recreational activities.
• Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate recreational activities. Participate in the development of treatment plan goals to meet needs and interests of youth.
• Participates in extended clinical coverage by working one weekend day a month and one late night a week until at least 7pm.

Other:

• Familiar with all co-worker's job functions so that appropriate internal referrals can be initiated as needed (i.e. nurse, clinician, and principal).
• Take on special tasks to contribute to the overall functioning of the program (i.e., ordering supplies, shopping, fire drills, pharmacy runs, errands, etc.).
• Aid in the training of new workers on the job.
• Drive program's vehicles as requested.
• Purchase, track, adapt, and maintain necessary recreation supplies and equipment. Make supply needs and activity recommendations to the Program Director.
• Coordinate with the Program Director costs of activities and make requests for petty cash or credit card purchases in a timely and proactive manner.
• Prepare and submit various requested documents and report to the Program Director and treatment team members reflecting youths' behaviors and evidence of progress or regression.
• Maintain the program's vehicles, ensuring functionality and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Establish and maintain community volunteer opportunities for the youth.

Training Requirements Specific to this Position:

• Handle with Care Bi-Annually
• All Training Academy Classes