RECREATION THERAPIST II/CORRECTIONAL HEALTH

Position/Program Information

The County of Los Angeles is currently offering up to 20% bonus for full-time Recreation Therapist II positions hired by Correctional Health Services and working on-site in a designated facility to meet critical healthcare needs for the uniquely underserved jail population.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Recreation Therapist II vacancies related to the DOJ Consent Decree.

Essential Job Functions

• Plans, organizes and directs a recreation therapy program designed to assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of hospital, clinic, or institutionalized patients or clients, or specifically defined patient populations, including conceptualization and demonstration projects.
• Supervises and conducts a variety of individual and group therapeutic recreational, social and physical treatment modalities and techniques Including therapeutic intervention, instruction, leadership and counseling techniques which focus on the restoration of physical, mental, and social capabilities.
• Selects, administers, analyzes, and interprets a variety of standardized and non-standardized assessment techniques of cognitive and social skills, affective behavior, and sensory motor integration to evaluate patients or clients; provides appropriate interventions requiring ongoing interpretation of assessment/re-assessment data which supports treatment goals and objectives.
• Defines recreation therapy goals and objectives and plans, develops and implements the recreation therapy programs through effective and efficient utilization of subordinate staff, recreation facilities and equipment and supplies.
• Contributes to the medical and rehabilitative services by participating in case, colleague and systems consultations, and serves on special committees representing recreation therapy in various hospitals, institutions, departmental, or community settings.
• Conducts and/or coordinates social/leisure discharge planning and community adjustment programs, and referral and patient-family education services to assist the patient or client in reintegrating into the community and utilizing community resources.
• Develops and maintains liaison with community agencies and recreation facilities to encourage their participation in recreation therapy and coordinate after care follow-up programs.
• Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of existing recreation therapy programs and services and revises or modifies the program in keeping with the changing needs of the patient and the inter-disciplinary team objectives.
• Documents treatment services in accordance with departmental, local, state, federal, and JCAHO regulations and regulatory standards.
• Delegates responsibilities and assigns treatment procedures to subordinate recreation therapy personnel and students, reviews their work and may prepare their performance evaluations.
• Orients new staff and members of inter-disciplinary team to therapeutic recreation procedures and the role of recreation therapy and provides on-going informal and formal in-service training to recreation therapy staff.
• Provides technical guidance to subordinate staff and students by instructing and training them in therapeutic methods and by recommending treatment modalities and intervention when appropriate.
• Evaluates current and future need for facilities, supplies and equipment, prepares and submits budget requests and follows through with ordering supplies and equipment.
• Attends and participates in professional conferences, seminars and workshops.

Requirements

• MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• Graduation from an accredited college or university* with specialization in Recreation Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation -AND- Two (2) years of experience in the practice of Recreation Therapy at the level of Recreation Therapist I**.
• A Master's degree* in Recreation Therapy or Recreation with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• LICENSE:
• Current certification to practice as a Recreation Therapist issued by the California Board of Parks and Recreation Certification -OR- Current certification to practice as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist issued by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. A valid California Class B Driver License may be required for appointment to some positions in this class.
• Applicants must provide the certificate number in the Supplemental Questionnaire or attach a legible photocopy of the certificate issued at the time of filing. All required licenses and certifications must be active and unrestricted, or your application will not be accepted.
• Physical Class III – Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

Additional Information

• OUT OF CLASS - County employees who wish to meet the requirements using out-of-class experience will be considered for this examination. Those claiming out-of-class experience should describe their out-of-class duties in detail in the Supplemental Questions sections of their application. Applicants are also encouraged to submit any supporting documentation such as out of class/additional responsibility bonuses, verification of experience documents, and performance evaluations in order to assist staff’s review of applicants' qualifications.