Recreation Therapy Assistant

**DEPARTMENT**:Therapy Department

**JOB TITLE: Recreation**Therapy Assistant**
**REPORTS TO**:Recreation Manager and Recreation Therapists**:**Educational Qualifications**:

- Recognized Therapy Assistant Diploma (Therapeutic Recreation or Rehabilitation) from an accredited school, equivalent training, or experience to be considered.
- Food safe certificate an asset.

**Work Experience**:

- 1-2 years experience in working with Mental health, Dementia, Physical disabilities residents.
- Experience in leading group and individual programs
- Computer knowledge required.
- Food safe certificate

**Responsibilities and Duties**:

- Responsible for day-to-day preparation, implementation, and evaluation of Recreation / Therapy programs for Villa Marguerite (VM) and Spruce wood Place (SPW).
- Implements and facilitates and assists programs on the Recreation Therapy Calendar at VM and SPW to meet physical, emotional, social, spiritual, cognitive needs of each resident.
- Maintains and fills out Recreation attendance log daily for each individual resident. Monitor and report significant change in level of participation.
- Assists Recreation Manager and Recreation Therapist develop care/treatment plans to meet the needs of the resident’s interests and goals.
- Maintain relationships with all departments.
- Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate therapeutic programs for various populations. Adapt programs to meet the needs of the resident.
- Demonstrate the ability to recognize cultural/ religious diversity of residents, staff, families, and volunteers.
- Attends educational sessions.
- Adhere and make sure staff adhere to infection and control measures.
- Responsible for resident safety always and keeping environment safe. Report unsafe conditions to your immediate supervisor.
- Report and fill out Incident reports in a timely manner.
- Fill in and submit all food requisitions for Recreation Therapy programs that require it.
- Coordinates, organizes, and supervises the volunteers at VM and SPW.
- Monitoring and communicating the need for Therapy supplies and equipment.
- Reports resident’s progress or concerns to Recreation Manager and Recreation Therapist.
- Demonstrate the ability to document and chart in a timely manner on resident progress and concerns. Reports all incidents to the Recreation Manager and Recreation Therapist.
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of residents needs and adapts programs to fit each residents needs.
- Gives input regarding residents for family conferences to the Recreation Therapist(s).
- Exhibits strong leadership skills.
- Reports family (guardian), staff, resident, and volunteer concerns in a timely manner. To be an advocate for residents
- Supports student practicums in collaboration with Recreation Manager/ Recreation Therapist.
- Proactively communicates with team members and solicits feedback.
- Maintains confidentiality on issues relating residents, employees and matters of PPL
- Excellent written and English language skill and ability to communicate effectively.

**Health and Safety Responsibilities**:

- Responsible to take every reasonable precaution to protect the safety of residents, self, other workers and the general public.
- Responsible to read and comply with PPSL’s and provincially mandated Occupational Health and Safety policies and safe work practices.
- Involved in all aspects of the Health and Safety Program including:

- Uses safe work procedures
- Promotes health and safety policies and awareness
- Makes safety suggestions; and
- Reads OHS minutes that are posted
- Reports any near miss, injury, and accident or equipment damage to supervisor immediately and completes required reports.
- Corrects and/or reports unsafe conditions.
- Sets a good example.

**Physical Demands Analysis**:
The Recreation Therapy Assistant position requires significant amount of lifting, walking, reaching, bending, pushing, kneeling and sitting through out the day. In an average day the employee spends 2 to 6 hours standing or walking. Lifts a maximum of 50 lbs., frequent lifting and/or carrying of 10-20 lbs. Position requires occasional heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects (moving tables and chairs).**

Must be able to manage stressful work situations with dexterity.
**Health and Safety Risks - Environment**
Physical: Strain on shoulder, neck and back
Environmental: Draft, dust exposure, working alone situation, using equipment with moving parts
Chemical: Equipment cleaners
Biological: Exposure to communicable diseases, i.e. colds, influenza, GI.
Radiation: Light

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