Area Coordinator - Therapeutic Recreation

About the role

The Therapeutic Recreation Team of the Rockford Park District is committed to providing community based recreation to promote the development, maintenance, and expression of a meaningful leisure lifestyle to individuals with disabilities. The TR department delivers services that promote and/or provide access, specialty programs, skills development and inclusive opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, make recommendations, and assist Recreation Coordinator regarding the quality of programming content, monitoring participation, and evaluating the success of program participants
• Aids in overseeing the following programs: outreach programs, cooking, walking club, All Stars sports, Bowling, additional social programs and Buddy Programs
• Evaluate and give constructive feedback to program staff concerning participant behavior management - approaches, program activities, structure, and site specific protocol
• Aid and make recommendations to recruit, hire, schedule, train, supervise, mentor and evaluate staff with guidance from the Recreation Coordinator
• Assist Recreation Coordinator in conducting Therapeutic Recreation assessments, developing support plans and program plans
• Plan and develop program schedules, activities, adaptations and program descriptions
• Provide staff with recommendations in adaptive techniques and intervention strategies to allow for maximum program participation and to meet the individual needs of participants
• Mentor seasonal staff in identifying barriers, writing participant goals, tracking and evaluating participant progress, and communicating to parents/guardians
• Cook, walk, lead sports, Bowling, and other social programs
• Coordinate, communicate, and delegate daily/weekly staff responsibilities
• Completes administrative responsibilities correctly and on time, such as verifying staff UKG, accident reports, behavior incidents, weekly site attendance, equipment inventory, and evaluations of staff and other reports as requested by the Recreation Coordinator
• Use effective and positive communication with program participants, other staff, parents/guardians, and internal and external agencies
• Act as a RPD liaison for the Recreation Coordinator while communicating with other RPD departments
• Work as a team to provide care for physical needs, toileting, transferring, or pushing participants in wheelchairs, while following RPD guidelines for personal care
• Attends scheduled meetings and trainings as determined by the Recreation Coordinator to include weekly staffing, RPDEd trainings, full staff and additional meetings as needed
• Use confidentiality in all aspects regarding participants involved in programs
• Maintains a working knowledge of department safety procedures
• Attends safety training, completes educational in-service opportunities and attends other district wide trainings as required
• Enforces rules and regulations set-up by the Rockford Park District
• Gathers, loads, transports and sets-up supplies and equipment for the program sites, including inventory and maintenance with support from program staff
• Enforces and follows all rules, regulations and policies set up by the Rockford Park District to include the Affirmative Action Plan, maintaining an alcohol and drug free workplace, and following all safety and risk management procedures
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Education/Experience: Two year Associates degree in recreation or related field, OR college level course work in related area and 2 years’ experience working with individuals with disabilities OR any equivalent combination of training and experience
• Critical Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities: Must be 20 years of age. Must have experience writing and implementing positive behavior plans. Must have experience working with various designs of communication to include picture systems. Must have good organizational and leadership skills for daily supervision and direction of participants. Must have good communication skills including expressive, written, and receptive. Must have flexibility to work at various locations as assignments are subject to change during the length of the season. Must have the ability to problem solve in a variety of situations. Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and demonstrate flexibility as a team player. Must have the ability to work in stressful conditions, including situations involving disability-related needs and dissatisfied customers. Must have the ability to use computer programs for creating and retrieving reports and schedules. Must have First Aid, CPR, and AED training (Can be obtained through Rockford Park District as determined necessary by supervisor)
• Physical Requirements: Medium Work Exerting in excess of 50 pounds of force occasionally Exerting in excess of 20 pounds of force frequently Exerting in excess of 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. This is a physically active position that involves stamina. Mobility to various locations required. Assist occasionally with caring for physical needs of participants including toileting, transferring, or pushing participants in wheelchairs. May require, if trained, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI). May be exposed to extreme weather conditions particularly cold, heat, and rain. May be exposed to hazardous vegetation (i.e. poison ivy) and insect bites while outdoors. May be working with flammable materials for fires. Ability to work under stressful conditions, including situations involving disability-related needs and dissatisfied customers.