Creative Arts Therapist - Level I

Creative Arts Therapist

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services. At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Sunday to Thursday 9am to 5pm two evenings 11am to 7pm 35 hours

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of Position: This class of positions encompasses professional and/or supervisory work of varying degrees of difficulty in the operation of a creative arts therapy department providing therapeutic services through the utilization of various modalities, principles and techniques specific to the creative arts therapy discipline. All personnel perform related work. Under direct supervision, with latitude for independent judgment and decision making, performs professional work of ordinary difficulty in the creative arts therapy discipline. Examples of Typical Tasks:

• Establishes and implements comprehensive therapeutic group/individual therapy programs utilizing principles and practices of creative arts therapy.
• Conducts individual assessments of patient's strengths and weaknesses to evaluate social, cognitive, psychological and physical functioning through the creative arts process.
• Develops treatment goals and objectives based on initial and ongoing assessments designed to improve functioning through the utilization of the techniques unique to the creative arts therapy discipline.
• Implements therapeutic interventions utilizing art, music, drama, dance or poetry as a modality to facilitate the patient's attainment of goals articulated in the patient treatment plans.
• Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team by attending meetings and contributing to the formulation of individual patient comprehensive treatment plans.
• Writes regular progress notes on patient's behavior and responses to treatment goals.
• Prepares and maintains records, progress reports, statistical information and participates in departmental and facility-wide quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
• Prepares supply requisitions and maintains inventories of equipment and supplies as designated.
• May be assigned to coordinate and supervise the activities of auxiliary staff in related therapeutic disciplines.
• May be assigned to instruct and supervise volunteers, interns and students in the areas of creative arts therapy.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Assignment Level I 1. A valid License or Limited Permit issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist. Employees working with a Limited Permit must obtain Licensure within two years from their date of appointment. Assignment Level II 1. A valid License issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist; and 2. Two years of full-time, paid, professional experience in creative arts therapy. Assignment Level III In addition to meeting the requirements for Assignment Levels II, Assignment Level III requires: 1. One additional year of experience.

Benefits

NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes: Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week Retirement Savings and Pension Plans Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities College Savings Program Union Benefits for eligible titles Multiple employee discounts programs Commuter Benefits Programs