Creative Arts Therapist/Recreational Therapist/Activities Aide - The Grove at Valhalla Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Creative Arts Therapist/Recreational Therapist

The main responsibilities of this position deal with ensuring the Therapist helps patients/residents maximize overall function and well-being. The Therapist will show understanding of the patients’/residents’ needs and interests and will create and facilitate programs that are meaningful and stimulating to patients/residents. The Therapist will be responsible for facilitating group programs, as well as one-to-one activities. The Therapist will also need to be comfortable with using a computer and other forms of devices, as they are responsible for documentation and accurate record-keeping. A strong commitment to the safety of patients/residents is also required. Ideal candidates will bring innovative ideas, enthusiasm, and clear understanding of the Creative Arts Therapist/Recreational Therapist role.

Creative Arts Therapist/Recreational Therapist Position Description:

• Utilizes Recreation Therapy and/or Creative Arts Therapy interventions to provide the clinical assessment and treatment of patients in a Skilled Nursing Facility.
• Addresses physical, psycho-social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs for patients and residents in accordance with the interdisciplinary plan of care; participates in the clinical training and supervision of creative arts therapy interns; and supports special programming, research, and education.
• Assesses the clinical needs of each subacute patient, as well as, those needs of our long-term residents, whether they have additional neurodivergent diagnoses, patients with neurocognitive disorders, psychiatric diagnoses, or additional physical limitations.
• Identify and implement appropriate therapeutic recreation and/or creative arts therapy techniques and interventions to address targeted goals.
• Effectively document the observations and results of the therapeutic recreation and/or creative arts therapy interventions
• Selects, adapts, and/or adjusts therapeutic recreation and/or creative arts therapy techniques and interventions in accordance with resident’s abilities and rehabilitation goals.
• Collaborates with an interdisciplinary care team regarding patient/resident care.
• Plans, implements, and creates weekly therapeutic recreation and/or creative arts therapy programs.
• Facilitates psychosocial activities as a therapeutic tool in order to normalize life in an skilled nursing facility setting and while under COVID-19 DOH guidelines.
• Utilize reminiscence and validation therapy as an intervention in appropriate situations during creative arts therapy programming.
• Assists in facilitating interactions between residents and their peers during programs, as well as in gathering areas.
• Coordinates and supervises the transportation of residents to & from all programs and activities as established by facility policy on socially distant programs in specific areas.
• Participates in and adheres to employee health and safety in-services & trainings.
• Conducts all activities within established safety and infection control procedures and guidelines, being flexible to the changing DOH guidelines for COVID-19 protocols.
• Utilizes required personal protective equipment as needed and as per facility policies.
• Operates equipment and machinery in accordance with manufacturer’s directions and facility procedures.
• Receives annual health assessment including appropriate screening for tuberculosis.
• Corrects unsafe or hazardous conditions encountered, if unable to correct, report condition to supervisor upon discovery.
• Responds appropriately to Codes called during drills and emergencies.
• Reports all accidents and incidents to supervisor immediately upon occurrence.
• Ensures safety of patient/resident at all times and that equipment is secure at all times.
• Ensures the proper disinfection of equipment after each use.
• Ensures that waste containing blood and other potentially infectious bodily fluids is disposed of properly.
• Ensures adherence to facility and Department of Health infection control protocol specifically for COVID-19.

Population Served: As both a nursing home and subacute rehab center, we serve a wide range of age groups, mainly within the geriatric category, and physical, neurocognitive, personality, developmental, and emotional disabilities and diagnoses.

Creative Arts Therapist/Recreational Therapist Job Requirements/Qualifications/Competencies:

Evidence of exposure and experience in working with the geriatric population for at least 1 year and/or working in the field for 1 year. Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Art Therapy, Drama Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, or related recreation experience, preferably with one of the following certifications:

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)

• Music Therapist (MT-BC)

• Registered Art Therapist (ATR)

• Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT)

• Creative Art Therapist (LCAT or LP-CAT)

Shift Needs:

Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm

 NOW OFFERING DAILY PAY!

An Equal Opportunity Employer