IL/Sheridan - Recreational Therapist

Position Summary:

Person in this position will provide programming, specific to recreation, in relation to treatment issues to clients participating in the program. Essential job functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide various recreational activities, as a form of active treatment for clients, based around their issues with addiction to improve their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning and increase independence in life activities.
• Provide clinical services, including one-to-one treatments, group treatments, co-treatments with other disciplines and community outings.
• Ensure that clients can participate in recreational therapy services.
• Conduct assessments, interviews, and chart reviews with clients.
• Plan and develop programs and treatment sessions.
• Implement treatment interventions based on clients assessed needs, abilities, and limitations.
• Evaluate efficacy and effectiveness of treatment interventions in relation to client progress.
• Attend meetings as part of the interdisciplinary team.
• Provide consultation with counseling staff in providing physical, cognitive, emotional/behavioral, leisure, and social interventions to clients.
• Educate and advocate for recreational therapy and therapeutic recreation programs.
• Attend and participate in professional workshops, conferences, and/or seminars to keep abreast of recent research and techniques.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Accredited as certified therapeutic specialist (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification or eligible to take the exam is preferred.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in recreational therapy, therapeutic recreation, recreation, or related field is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• One (1) year in a psychiatric, behavioral health, or correctional setting administering therapeutic groups and leading participation-oriented activities is preferred
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management
• Must possess strong computer skills, to encompass all Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Superior writing skills
• Ability to pass background check
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality
• Must have professional appearance and demeanor
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from Illinois Department of Corrections
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an institutional setting.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required, which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employees essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.