ACTIVITY THERAPIST

Therapeutic Activities Therapist

Summit Oaks Hospital, a 126 bed, private acute care hospital and chemical dependency treatment center, has been providing quality health care to adult, child and adolescent northeastern USA residents, since 1902. Summit Oaks has repeatedly been recognized in U.S. News & World Report, as one of the nation's best behavioral health hospitals. The Therapeutic Activities Therapist functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, role modeling, and monitoring patients ranging in age from preschool through geriatrics, depending on the nursing unit assigned. At present, the nursing units include a 28 bed adult psych unit, a 28 bed adult dual diagnosis, a 22 bed child and adolescent unit, a 24 bed detox unit and a 20 bed rehab unit.

The Therapeutic Activities Therapist is responsible for planning and implementing activity services for assigned program, which involves defining and implementing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Certification, licensure, and/or Board Certification by state and/or national governing body in Art Therapy (Required)

Licenses Included: CTRS (recreation therapy), ATR (art therapy), MT-BC (music therapy), OT (occupational therapy) and LAC/LPC (counseling)

Related Work Experience: 1-3 years (Required)

Specialized Skills and Knowledge:

• Knowledge in one or more program disciplines (i.e. art, occupational, recreation, and/or music, expressive, dance therapy).
• Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.
• Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques.
• Thorough knowledge and training in CPR, preferred.
• Knowledge of adolescent and adult program rules and protocols.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Ability to speak and write fluently in English language.
• Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.
• Ability to accept direction and adhere to safety policies and procedures.
• Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and tolerate a variety of repetitive tasks.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and steam are frequently generated in housekeeping tasks.
• Performs other duties as assigned/required by this position.

Essential Job Duties/Responsibilities

1. Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.
2. Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals.
3. Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Program Coordinator.
4. Provides assessment in psychosocial/leisure and recreational skills development/deficiency.
5. Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care.
6. Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required.
7. Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning.
8. Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria.
9. Maintain current documentation in weekly progress notes, including the patient's name, date, name of therapeutic group/intervention, and summary of the session.
10. Effectively plans and implements therapeutic activity groups for assigned patient case load within the facility, as well as outside the hospital as required.
11. Monitor therapeutic space, supplies and equipment and ensures they are kept in a clean, orderly and safe condition.
12. Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients.
13. Demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.
14. Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.
15. Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld.
16. Report therapeutic services charges daily, substantiating any changes in the treatment notes.
17. Attend program meetings and maintain related records.
18. Provide direction, education, and inservice to other unit personnel regarding Therapeutic Activities Department.
19. Teach coping skills and stress management techniques to patients.
20. Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to therapy, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.
21. Contribute to treatment plan with specific goals and interventions to be achieved in therapeutic activities.
22. Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines and maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for behavior related to child development arise.
23. Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning disabled child.
24. Relate to child patients in an age appropriate manner.
25. Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issue.
26. Recognize acting out behavior of adolescent specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
27. Maintain current knowledge of the Adult Program rules, protocols and handbook guidelines.
28. Gather the appropriate information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use therapeutic judgements based on knowledge of gerontological health/behavioral care practices to develop a comprehensive plan of care.
29. Maintain a complete knowledge of treatments, medications and side effects of such in the geriatric age group.
30. Collaborate with other chemical dependency staff professionals in planning for discharge and follow-up care.
31. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.

Benefits

Career development opportunities across UHS and its 300+ locations! Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan Tuition Reimbursement (eligible employees)