Lead Recreation Therapist - Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center/HCPC at UTHealth

Join a growing team!   With the opening of Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center/HCPC  at UTHealth, we will soon have the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country, serving the region with an 500+ bed facility.  Our dedicated health care employees will have the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of mental health specialties and cutting-edge research.    With exposure to a variety of specialties such as Acute, Subacute, and Intensive Outpatient, Continuum of Care, Mood Disorders, ECT, Early Onset Treatment , Adult General Psychiatry, Competency Restoration, Child and Adolescent, Juvenile Justice, Geriatric Psychiatry, Treatment Mall and Unit-Based Programming.

 This dedicated team will work in an integrated campus to bring world class resources to the community.  Apply today to be a part of this committed team serving the mental health needs of the area.

Position Summary:

Provides lead role in treatment centered interventions through structured therapeutic recreation.

Location:  Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center/HCPC  at UTHealth

Dept.:       Programming

Status:      Full-Time

FLSA:         Non-Exempt

Position Key Accountabilities:

1. Develops current evidenced based therapeutic recreation, physical wellness, self-expressive arts, leisure education, and alternative therapeutic activity programming for age specific inpatient and specialized mental health treatment.
2. Leads the Recreational Therapy (RT) team in the implementation of recreation activities for patients.  Identifies, distributes and balances employee workloads based on priorities, consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and other relevant factors. 
3. Assigns Recreational Therapy staff to designated unit programs.
4. Responsible for creating and executing work schedules for each Recreational Therapist. 
5. Collaborates with Director of Programming or designee to determine Recreational Therapy’s specific operational, financial, and other needs to carry out patient centered therapeutic activities.
6. Monitors and analyzes patient related productivity levels of the RT staff through direct clinical supervision, and peer review of chart audits.    
7. Assists in providing patient groups, treatment planning and coverage to ensure appropriate staffing levels for continuous RT programming during the week, weekends, and holidays. 
8. Utilizes electronic medical record systems for patient documentation and patient documentation reviews. 
9. Monitors and coordinates patient-care by collaborating with other direct care leaders and disciplines.
10. Monitor staff’s adherence to time and attendance, and all other UTHealth, HCPC and Programming department policies and procedures.
11. Conducts competency bi-annual reviews through direct observation and monthly chart audits to ensure Recreation Therapy, Programming Department, and UTHCPC standards of practice are in compliance. 
12. Other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)                                                                                                    

 

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation or degree with emphasis in therapeutic recreation.

 

Minimum Experience:

Three years experience in behavioral health setting.

 

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215