Recreational Therapist - Jacksonville, United States - TrueCore Behavioral Solutions

Description

Job Details

Job Location
Jacksonville Youth Academy - Jacksonville, FL


Description

A

Position Definition & Summary:

The recreation therapist will be responsible to facilitate structured and organized physical activities to restore motor, social and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills, and promote wellness and pro-social activities.

This position will report to the DMHCA and work closely with the therapists to integrate physical and mental health wellness goals into the youths' individualized treatment plans.

B

Position Expectations and Essential Functions:

Plans, develops, and promotes onsite and offsite therapeutic and recreational activities and activities designedto promote cultural diversity in coordination with and under the direction of the Clinical Director.

Develops and integrates physical and mental health wellness goals into the youths' individualized treatmentplans.
Participates in implementing applicable youth performance and treatment planning by:
a.
Maintaining communication with youth.
b.
Encouraging and facilitating youths' participation in both therapeutic and recreation activities.
c.
Supervising youth to ensure their safety and involvement in treatment.
d.
Monitoring youths' progress and communicating information regarding youths' participation and behaviorto other members of treatment team.
e.
Providing input for treatment team review processes.
Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for youth while participating in both therapeuticand recreational activities.
Maintains assigned youth, group, program, department, and related documentation.
Participates in maintaining the therapeutic milieu on the unit, enforces the positive performance system.
Orients new youth to unit, delinquency services programming, as well as therapeutic and recreational activities.
Effectively implements and consistently applies the program's Positive Performance System (PPS) / BehaviorManagement System (BMS).
Detects, responds, and prevents abuse of youth.
Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.


Qualifications

C

Position Requirements:

Education/Experience:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with formal training in physical education.

A minimum of one year of related experience working with youth is required.

Other Requirements:
Required to be at least 21 years of age or older. Age of employee is dependent on the ages of the youth atindividual programs.
Required to possess a valid state ID or driver's license in the state where the work site is located.

If the use ofa company vehicle or the transportation of youth is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position,only a valid driver's license will be accepted.

May be asked to assist with ratio coverage if necessary.
Required to respond to the facility with minimal notification for emergency response or operational support.

Required to intervene with individuals engaged in a physical altercation or attempting self-harm, physicallyprevent an escape, and/or offer immediate pursuit of an escaped youth.

D

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
College level reading ability, oral communication skills, and written communication skills to include legiblehandwriting.
Knowledge of the theory and practice of applied behavior analysis
Basic knowledge of human behavior, principles of psychology, human growth and development, and theemotional needs of residential youth. Experience with therapeutic limit-setting or an understanding of levelsystems or other behavior management modalities is helpful.
Ability to teach or assist with youth's activities of daily living.

Ability to demonstrate judgment and discretion in dealing with sensitive information and maintain all informationregarding the facility, youth, and other staff as highly confidential.

Ability to deal courteously and maintain professional boundaries with youth and other staff and the willingnessto seek counsel from supervisory staff in this regard.

Ability to tolerate verbal, mental, and occasional physical abuse while maintaining a professional demeanor.

Ability to use appropriate social skills with youth and other staff, including verbal, nonverbal, written, and visualdemonstrations of effective communication, conflict resolution, active listening, empathy, healthy relationships,and respect.

Ability to function independently within a team-oriented atmosphere, work under pressure, meet inflexibledeadlines, set priorities, and deal diplomatically with difficult individuals.

Ability to deal courteously with the public and use appropriate customer service skills through electronic,telephonic and face to face interactions.

Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively, display strong multi-tasking capabilities and use appropriateproblem-solving skills to develop solutions under minimal supervision when necessary.

Ability to maintain all TrueCore and DJJ annual training and certification requirements.
E.Equipment Utilized
While completing job duties, the following machines and tools may be utilized by the employee:
Telephone
Audio-visual equipment
Copy Machine
First Aid Items
Shredder

AED
Calculator
Vehicle
F

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

Processing and Reasoning:
Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as in verbaland physical confrontations. Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions and noise. Ability toassist youth with problem-solving and maintaining self-control in volatile situations.