Creative Arts Therapist - Level II

About the Role

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens, comprising 545 beds. As a Level I Trauma Center, Emergency Heart Care Station, and 911 Receiving Hospital, EHC is a premier healthcare organization specializing in Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal, and Mental Health Services. At NYC Health + Hospitals, the mission is to deliver high-quality care without exception, with every employee embodying the ICARE values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Responsibilities

This position involves professional and/or supervisory work in operating a creative arts therapy department, providing therapeutic services through various modalities, principles, and techniques specific to the discipline. Responsibilities include:

• Establishing and implementing comprehensive therapeutic group/individual therapy programs using creative arts therapy principles.
• Conducting individual assessments of patients' strengths and weaknesses to evaluate social, cognitive, psychological, and physical functioning through the creative arts process.
• Developing treatment goals and objectives based on assessments to improve patient functioning using techniques unique to creative arts therapy.
• Implementing therapeutic interventions using art, music, drama, dance, or poetry as modalities to facilitate patient goal attainment.
• Participating as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, contributing to the formulation of individual patient treatment plans.
• Writing regular progress notes on patient behavior and responses to treatment goals.
• Preparing and maintaining records, progress reports, statistical information, and participating in QA/PI activities.
• Preparing supply requisitions and maintaining inventories of equipment and supplies.
• Coordinating and supervising auxiliary staff, volunteers, interns, and students in creative arts therapy.

At higher assignment levels, additional responsibilities include:

• Serving as a professional resource for Creative Arts Therapists in developing specialized treatment interventions.
• Providing consultation for complex cases in evaluating social, cognitive, psychological, and physical functioning.
• Monitoring, documenting, and evaluating the attainment of creative arts therapy goals.
• Representing the department at conferences, workshops, or community functions.
• Developing and conducting departmental training programs on new developments and techniques.
• Functioning as a primary therapist within the boundaries of professional competency as specified by New York State Education Law.

Requirements

• Assignment Level I: A valid License or Limited Permit issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist. Employees with a Limited Permit must obtain licensure within two years of appointment.
• Assignment Level II: A valid License issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist, plus two years of full-time, paid, professional experience in creative arts therapy.
• Assignment Level III: In addition to Level II requirements, one additional year of experience is required.