Program Associate/ Recreation Therapist

The Program Associate is accountable to the Director of Programs & Support Services and provides recreation activities for individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Using a variety of techniques, including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings, Program Associates improve and maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the residents. Under the direction of the Program Director, they help individuals reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively. They carry out recreational interventions consistent with the residents' needs and interests as directed by the Program Director.

Background/Qualifications:
· Diploma in recreation, or related field.
· Minimum 1 year experience in a social or recreation program preferred.
· Able to identify new methods to incorporate recreation into programming for residents.
· Basic knowledge of medical terminology an asset.
· Ability to assume leadership in a group.
· Must have patience, tact, friendly disposition, enthusiasm, and developed communication skills.
· Highly flexible, with solid interpersonal skills that allow one to work effectively in a diverse working environment.
· Must have a basic understanding of the elderly and aging process.
· Excellent time management and project management skills.
· Able to deal with people sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, and professionally at all times.
· Understanding of Microsoft Office programs and good organizational skills.
· Demonstrated understanding of patient/client safety procedures.
· Strong customer service skills.

Core Competencies:
· Resident-Centred Care: Ensures and maintains resident satisfaction with the product and services offered by the organization.
· Communication: Clearly conveys information to a variety of audiences using the tools necessary, engaging the audience to ensure the message is delivered and understood, creating a positive first impression with confidence and respect.
· Energy & Stress: Consistently demonstrates a high level of drive, infectious to the surrounding environment, and preserves effectiveness, drive, and focus for extended periods of time, while maintaining composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.
· Team Work: Promotes cooperation and commitment with the team towards the attainment of common goals. Gets others excited about and committed to furthering the organization’s objectives. Enables cooperative and productive group interactions.
· Quality Orientation: Completes tasks keeping in mind all aspects involved regardless of magnitude, checks tasks and processes while having attention to details. Follows occupational health and safety regulations as per homes policies and procedures.
· Problem Solving: Resolves difficult and complicated challenges.
· Time Management/Accountability/Dependability: Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieves results with no oversight, including following guidelines, standards, regulations, and principles. Maximizes time in order to accomplish tasks.
· Operating Equipment: Uses tools, machines, and vehicles to transport or create products or services.
· Ethics and Integrity: Earns the trust and respect of others through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions. Diplomatically handles challenging or tense interpersonal situations.

Job Duties:
· Plan and perform group and one-on-one activities meeting the needs of each resident and encouraging participation.
· Ensure each resident’s physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and sensory emotional needs are met through independent activities or group in accordance with Program Director's direction.
· Encourage residents who are isolated from others or who have limited social skills to have recreational interaction with others.
· Assist in developing and updating the recreational interventions addressing the needs of the residents.
· Encourage residents to continue independent activities.
· Observe and document the individual resident attendance, participation, reactions, and progress.
· Instruct residents in relaxation techniques to reduce stress and tension, stretching and limbering exercises, proper body mechanics for participation in recreational activities, pacing and energy conservation techniques, and team activities.
· Use interventions to develop specific skills while providing opportunities for exercise, mental stimulation, creativity, and fun.
· Deliver treatment plans set by Program Director to meet the needs of residents.
· Encourage residents with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
· Confer with members of the treatment team to plan and give input into the evaluation of programs.
· Implement activities, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
· Give input into reports and charts to the treatment team to reflect resident’s reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
· Assist ambulatory and transport wheelchair residents to and from on-site activities.
· Assist residents on and off the bus and up and down stairs/elevator.
· Secure wheelchairs and walkers in the bus and transfer residents between wheelchairs and bus seats.
· Operate activity equipment in a safe manner.
· Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform projects and activities.
· Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure necessary equipment is available and working properly.
· Complete and submit necessary work orders.
· Responsible for the maintenance of recreational instruments, purchasing instruments, and general maintenance.
· Follow established safety and infection control policies and procedures and participate in all required in-service training regarding fire safety, disaster preparedness, and infection control and safety regulations.
· Serve on various committees as directed by supervisor.
· Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, and in-service training as assigned.
· Maintain work areas in a sanitary and safe manner and follow the unit dress code.
· Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
· Works in residents' rooms, activity rooms, and other common areas.
· Walks, sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves continually during working hours.
· Ability to lift over 50 pounds, push wheelchairs, transport and support residents.
· Interacts with residents, family members, staff, visitors, and government agencies/personnel.
· May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including exposure to the AIDS and hepatitis B viruses.
· Interacts with residents, family members, staff, visitors, and government agencies.
· Travel may be required.
· Ability to attend and conduct presentations.
· Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
· Overtime as required.

Physical Requirements:
· Lifting alone, maximum 50 lbs. (5-25 lbs. usual).
· Lifting with assistance, maximum 160 lbs. (100-150 lbs. usual) as a minor job function.
· Pushing/pulling, contents that weigh a maximum of 160 lbs. (100-125 lbs. usual), as a minor activity.
· Walking, with the possibility of some upstairs walking, as a major job function.
· Standing, for lengths of time, up to 3 hours maximum (1-2 hrs. usual) as a major job function.
· Bending/stooping for short periods of time as a minor job function.
· Crouching/kneeling for short periods of time as a minor job function.
· Carries and transports objects of various sizes, to a maximum of 25 lbs. (5-15 lbs. usual) as a minor job function.

Health and Safety Responsibilities:
Is aware of the employees’ responsibilities and follows all health and safety policies and procedures as set out in the employee safety program handbook and departmental manuals.
· Works safely to reduce the risk of injury to self, co-workers, and residents.
· Is alert to and promptly reports all actual or potentially hazardous situations to immediate supervisor.
· Does not operate or use faulty equipment.
· Wears personal protective equipment (or clothing) as required by task, M.S.D.S. or home policy.
· Promptly reports personal injury to supervisor and seeks first aid as needed.
· Participates in fire safety demonstrations and fire drills and knows the home’s fire and disaster plan.
· Knowledgeable of and practices ergonomic techniques in relation to home’s computers.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $22.34 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• On-site parking

Experience:

• Recreational therapy: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• First Aid Certification (preferred)

Work Location: In person