Therapeutic Recreation Leader (At-Will)

Therapeutic Recreation Leader (At-Will)

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Therapeutic Recreation Leader position.

An Overview

The Therapeutic Recreation Leader will be creating, implementing and leading therapeutic recreational programs for older adults with physical, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities; recognizing emergencies and other health threatening conditions for participants at the Adult Day Services Center. The work of this class provides assistance with personal hygiene, physical and cognitive activities, and social interactions. This class creates and implements behavior treatment plans for participants, communicates concerns and makes recommendations regarding the participants' behavioral problems to the direct supervisor, center nurse and center director. The incumbent plans and implements program goals and objectives. The incumbent initiates program activities and plans based on the varied interests and needs of the program participants. The incumbent works independently consulting, when necessary, with the supervisor. The work is performed under the general direction of a Therapeutic Recreation Manager.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have good knowledge of the social and recreational sciences, including the theory, principles and practices of therapeutic activities. Implementing activities for older adults in an adult day care program setting; knowledge of the aging process; ability to relate to frail and or impaired older adults and adults with disabilities; skilled in interpersonal work relationships; ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing with the program participants, caregivers, and co-workers; ability to break activities down into recreation skill levels that meet the needs of participants; ability to plan and present creative therapeutic activities for older adults. All employees must complete and sign the attached Essential Job Functions sheet.

The Opportunity

• Plan and lead daily therapeutic recreational activities;
• Provide direct care to physically and cognitively impaired participants, including toileting and changing soiled clothing;
• Provides assistance with ambulation, redirects confused and wandering participants and maintains a safe environment;
• Inspects equipment and monitors activities to ensure safety standards are met and guidelines are followed;
• Keeps accurate documentation of participants progress, case notes and assessments, maintains daily attendance records;
• Prepares and serves breakfast, lunch and snack;
• Housekeeping duties include but are not limited to kitchen clean up, cleaning the oven, logging freezer temperatures, monitor and rotate refrigerator, freezer, and pantry items to ensure food safety, sanitizing cooking and serving utensils, laundry, human waste cleanup, keeping rooms, closets and work area neat and clean, removing fall hazards, cleaning tables, activities equipment, yearly outdoor garden clean-up and maintenance, monitoring kitchen equipment daily to ensure it is in safe and proper working condition;
• In the absence of the Center Nurse, administers medications to participants, reads doctors’ orders, fills out the medical administration records;
• Completes incident reports in the event of a fall, serious accident, or lost participant;
• Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Two-Year College Degree; Good knowledge of the social and recreational sciences, including the theory, principles, and practices of therapeutic recreation; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities; ability to acquire appropriate certification in CPR and First Aid within the first three months of employment; completion of a minimum 40-hour training program consistent with Department of Medical Assistance Services requirement or Nursing Assistant Certification; employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the State of their residence; pre-employment drug test; criminal records check; and TB test.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in therapeutic activities, preferably in an adult day care program setting or a directly related field working with the frail and impaired older seniors and person with disabilities; completions of college-level courses in gerontology including therapeutic recreation; or acquire appropriate certification from National Certification Council for Activities Professionals. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: Criminal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; Verification of education/certifications; Drug screening and TB test.

Schedule:

This is an At-Will (PRN) position. Minimum numbers of hours are not guaranteed. As an Essential Employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled.